Brent Community Land Trust shows what community-centred planning and development can do. Impressive proposals outlined for Brentfield Road

 

 

Plans for a new development in Brentfield Road have been lodged with Brent Planning. It is a small Brent development by tower blocks standards and aimed at single people,  but it has revolutionary potential as Brent families and indivuals continue to be locked out of new housing in the borough. Can the approach be expanded to include family housing?

 

The site outlined in red

 

The plans are submitted by Brent Community Land Trust, dedicated band of volunteers who have a different approach to development compared with the usual developers. Home grown, based in the borough, committed to community participation, and wanting to address the housing needs of local people.

 

Extract from the Design and Access Statement for Planning Reference 26/0315

 

Brent Community Land Trust

 

Brent CLT is an independent, not for profit organisation, led by volunteers who live, work or have a connection to Brent. It was established to create genuinely affordable housing with and for the Brent community. Brent CLT was established in 2020 in response to the lack of local affordable housing identified in the Harlesden Neighbourhood Plan, which included a commitment to explore community-led housing locally. Brent CLT identified a first development site in collaboration with Brent Council and has developed a functional brief through a series of capacity studies and community workshops.

 

The Brentfield Road Scheme creates a distinct and much needed opportunity for local people by developing a community led response to increase housing supply with a scheme that is designed specifically for single adults on low incomes. This includes individuals who may be; currently living in temporary accommodation such as local hostels but ready to live independently; those on the council waiting list; or living in overcrowded accommodation with their parent(s) or guardians; and those who cannot access private renteaccommodation, whether due to affordability, lack of tenancy history, or inability to provide a deposit, rent in advance and/or agent’s fees. The design and density of the proposed development allows the scheme to keep rents and service charges below the relevant Local Housing Allowance and more akin to London Affordable Rent, as defined by the GLA.

 

The site is particularly suited to this client group as prior to offering the site to Brent CLT, the council commissioned a feasibility which showed that the site is not suitable for family sized units.

 

Funding

 

London Borough of Brent has resolved to make the land available to Brent CLT at nil or notional cost subject to conditions being met. The scheme will be in receipt of GLA funding for at least 50% with the remaining funded through borrowing.

 

The Brief

The key elements of the brief are as follows;

 

• The target market for the development is single people who may find it difficult to access self-contained accommodation due to cost or availability. Therefore the brief is for a development with 1Bedroom1Person units sized at 37sqm.

 

• A communal space is to be provided. This will provide shared amenity for residents. Use will be decided through engagement with the local community and potential residents.

 

• The development will be car-free.

 

• The ambition is to build quality, beautiful homes and thriving communities that will leave a lasting legacy in Brent.

 

In addition: The proposals provide a 100% affordable scheme, exceeding the targets set out within the Brent Local  Plan and London Plan (2021). Furthermore, the proposals are to be set at 100% social rent levels, exceeding the tenure mix targets in respect of social rented accommodation set out within the London Plan (2021) and the Brent Local Plan (2022).

 

Given the size of the site Biodiversity Net Gain will have to be provided off-site but an effort has been made for some small greens paces witin the develpment. Similarly amenity space is limited:

 

Ground floor green space

 

 

The walkway on upper floors are provided with benches to encourage social interaction 

 

A communal space is provided and its exact use left  to consultation with the tenants
 

 The proposed building on Brentfield Road

As with all developments there are issues to be resolved including loss of light to nearby homes but as the first attempt by volunteers in the Brent CLT  it is impressive, particularly in their attempts to gain participation by local people at a very early stage in the planning.

So far there is only one comment on the Brent Planning Portal:

I am writing in support of this application and wish to highlight the significant role the proposed development will play in addressing homelessness and housing insecurity in Brent.

Brent continues to experience extremely high levels of housing need, with many households living in temporary accommodation or facing the risk of homelessness. One of the core aims of this scheme is to provide 19 high-quality, secure, and genuinely affordable homes that will offer long-term stability for residents who are currently unable to access suitable housing.

Community Land Trust (CLT) homes are permanently affordable by design, as they are held in community stewardship and linked to local incomes rather than market values. This ensures that these homes remain accessible to those who need them most-both now and for future generations. By delivering housing at social-rent-equivalent levels (or other sub-market tenure depending on agreement), the development helps prevent homelessness by giving residents a stable, long-term and affordable home within their own community.

In addition, the inclusion of communal spaces and shared gardens will help create a supportive environment, enabling residents-particularly those who may previously have experienced housing instability-to build community connections, improve wellbeing, and maintain stable tenancies.

This scheme directly supports Brent's wider strategic objectives around homelessness prevention, affordable housing delivery, and community-led regeneration. It transforms underused garage land into much-needed homes that will be owned and managed for the benefit of local people.

For these reasons, I strongly support this application and believe it represents an important, socially-responsible step in addressing homelessness and housing need in the borough.

 

 PLANNING PORTAL DETAILS

Planning – Planning Application Documents

26/0315 | Demolition of existing garages and redevelopment to provide a part three and part four-storey building comprising 19 residential units (Use Class C3) with ancillary communal room, communal gardens, landscaping, cycle parking and stores and all other associated ancillary works | Garages rear of 8-12 Stonebridge Park, Brentfield Road, London LINK

May 7th 2026 Local Election: ACE Climate and Nature Hustings Tuesday 14th April - In-person and On-lne

 

 🔈You are invited to ACE Brent's Action on the Climate Emergency Hustings ✅

 

🗓️ Tuesday 14 April - 7-9pm at Barham Community Library

 

Meet and question the candidates as they present their plans to tackle the climate emergency. 

 

Please register to attend this event:

 

🖥️ Online: https://bit.ly/hustonl

 

👥 In person: https://bit.ly/hustper

 

 ✉️ACE@brentfoe.com

If you know of a hustings coming up and would like to advertise it email: wembleymatters@virginmedia.com

Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre thrown a temporary lifeline

 

The Welsh Harp Environmental Centre has been thrown a lifeline after its closure last summer. Brent Council has allocated £30,000 to repair the classrooms that are in very poor condition and were flooded during the winter.

The Council has reached an agreement with  Thames 21 to run classes at the Centre from April, ahead of the May local election, Thames 21 gave up running the Centre in Summer 2025 because of the high running costs but have now agreed to return.  No details have been released on the financial arrangements that would ensure viability in the future and the charges that will be made to schools. At the time of closure the charge was £5 per pupil. Primary schools across the borough are facing budgetary problems, including those caused by falling pupil numbers, so the charge will be an important factor.

A petition was launched after the closure announcement that reached 401 signatures LINK despite the fact that schools were on holiday when the campaign got underway.

The petition urged the Council: 

 We residents and people who work or study in Brent call on Brent Council to undertake a full scoping exercise to enable the work of the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre (WHEEC) with primary age children to continue. This work, which has been going on for more than half a century is even more important at a time of a climate and ecological emergency. It is imperative that the generation that will be dealing with this emergency in the future are enabled to experience and appreciate the natural world that is now under threat.

Brent Council in today's Press Release hints at a possible return to the original idea that space would be provided in the 16-25 Skills Centre planned for the site:

Brent Council is also working on longer-term plans for a larger, permanent home for environmental education at Welsh Harp where, among other things, young people with special educational needs and disabilities will be able to access a range of training opportunities, including horticulture. ·

SAVE OUR GREEN SPACES - Community fights to keep South Kilburn's Granville Rec

 

Wembley Matters has reported the regeneration of South Kilburn over many years - problems are many including Granille New Homes purcased by the Council and costing more to remediate than to purchase price, balconies that flood, windows that fall out, shops flooded and closed down, heating breaking down regularly, new build built up close to old build not meeting separation space standards, fire in the disused job centre, Brent Council's  'Landlord Promise' looking unlikely to be fulfilled and much more.

 

The new Peel Precinct public space (above)  is windswept concrete and privately owned and symbolises the lack of soul that often characterises new developments.

It is no wonder then that tenacious residents want to hold on to a remnant of green space that represents what many hold dear, community belonging and engagement, and a space that is utilised for the benefit of all. 

Even on a cold day outside the growing season, there were crops to be seen that contribute to Granville Community Kitchen's mission of transforming 'ourselves, our communities and our food systems to create a just resilient  and sustainable world.'

 

 

A space to run around, tumble safely on a grassy surface AND get involved in growing food and engage with your neighbours. It is clear to me that the site has a lot of potential. Volunteers are already investing hours of their free time and it would be great if Brent Council also invested in the space and saved it from further development.

 

THE PETITION - PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY - SAVE OUR GREEN SPACES

 

We, the undersigned, strongly object to the proposed development of Block D on Granville Recreation Ground (planning ref: 21/2587).

 

Key Concerns & Why We Object: 

• Loss of vital community green space & garden
• Negative Wider Environmental Impact - air pollution and biodiversity
• Lack of Proper Consultation with Residents
• Negative impact on Princess Road Conservation Area 
• Contradicts the original South Kilburn Regeneration masterplan
• Totally inadequate replacement 

 

We demand that Brent Council:

• Halt plans for Block D to preserve our existing green space, garden, vegetable growing project, trees and biodiversity.
• Conduct a genuine public consultation with all local residents
• Revise the development plan to benefit both new and existing residents without compromising our local green space.

SIGN THE PETITION HERE

This is an objection made in July 2025: 

I object to the proposed development at Granville Road, which prioritizes housing density over the preservation of vital green space. As a resident of this area for over 50 years, I have deep concerns about the environmental, social, and infrastructural impacts of this plan. My objections align with those of the Princess Road Residents Association and others who have highlighted the severe drawbacks of this proposal.

LOSS OF GREEN SPACE AND ECOLOGICAL IMPACT:

It seems to me that the removal of Granville Recreation Ground will have detrimental consequences for local biodiversity.

I cannot see where the plans help address the decline in birds, pollinators, and wildlife, many of which rely on the mature trees and green spaces that the current space provides.

The introduction of a heavily regimented "urbanized" park design falls woefully short in attempts to replicate the ecological value of the existing natural landscape - so much so that it begs the question if ecological value has been fully assessed.

I am also concerned about the increased heat island effect due to reduced tree cover, which I understand is contrary to Brent Council's own Climate Emergency Declaration (2019, updated 2021).

The proposed "replacement" park, while technically larger, is dominated by roads and parking spaces, meaning an overall loss of usable green space. I fully echo the expressed concerns that this is exactly what London does not need in the face of climate change.

FLOODING RISK EXACERBATION 

I have personally experienced severe flooding in this area (most recently during the July 2021 cloudburst), and the proposed development raises serious concerns about drainage. My household has received no compensation and has had huge implications on matters of insurance for us.

Increased hard surfaces (buildings, roads, paved areas) mean greater rainwater runoff, threatening already overwhelmed drainage systems.

Past flooding events (including historic incidents from the 1950s-60s where basements were inundated) show this area is highly vulnerable.

Lack of detailed flood response plans in the application suggests the council and developers are ignoring this critical risk.

INADEQUATE CONSULTATION & COMMUNITY VOICE IGNORED

Despite being a long-term resident, I-like many others-have not been properly consulted on the material changes to this plan since its 2021 inception. The opaque communication from Brent Council and developers has left me and my wife, as with many of my neighbours, feeling disregarded and misled.

CONTRADICTIONS TO BRENTS OWN POLICIES

As far as I can tell, this proposal directly conflicts with Brent Council's commitments to:

Green Infrastructure Vision (loss of mature trees and biodiverse spaces)
Health Equity Goals (reduction in accessible, natural recreational areas)
Clean Air & Carbon Reduction Targets (fewer trees, more concrete)
Conclusion & Appeal

IN SUMMARY

I urge Brent Council to reject this flawed proposal and instead:

- Protect Granville Recreation Ground as a vital green lung for South Kilburn. 

- Demand a full, independent flood-risk assessment before any further planning decisions. 

- Hold transparent public consultations-where residents' concerns are not just heard but acted upon.

If this development proceeds in its current form, it will be a loss for the environment, a risk to homeowners, and a betrayal of community trust. I expect Brent Council to uphold its duty to residents-not developers' profits.

'It's about listening to us,' Brent youngsters' message on facing the challenge of climate change together - video

 

 

ACAA Raises Concerns Over UK Visa ‘Emergency Brake’ for Afghans and Urges Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to Review the Decision

 Republished with permiasion from London-TV

  

The Afghanistan & Central Asian Association (ACAA), an award-winning UK-based refugee charity headquartered in London and the largest charity supporting Afghan and Central Asian communities in the United Kingdom, has expressed serious concern over Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s decision to impose an “emergency brake” on new student visa applications from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Sudan, and Myanmar.

The policy was introduced by the Home Office in response to concerns that some individuals entering the UK on student visas later apply for asylum. While ACAA recognises the UK government’s responsibility to maintain the integrity of the immigration system, the Charity warns that such measures risk unfairly impacting genuine applicants who are seeking lawful opportunities for education and professional development.

ACAA is particularly concerned that, while the suspension of student visas applies to all four countries, the government has chosen to suspend work visas specifically for Afghan nationals alone. The charity believes that singling out Afghans in this way is deeply troubling and risks further restricting already limited legal pathways for a population facing one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world.

The suspension of student visas removes an essential route to higher education for thousands of qualified applicants. For young Afghans especially, access to education has already been severely restricted, particularly for women and girls who have been denied the right to secondary and higher education inside Afghanistan for almost five years under Taliban rule.

For many of these young people, the opportunity to study overseas represents one of the few remaining chances to pursue academic goals, build self-reliance, and secure long-term stability.

Darius Nasimi, Head of Funding and Partnerships at the Afghanistan & Central Asian Association, said:

Over the years, I have spoken with and supported many young people in Afghanistan whose greatest hope is simply to study. For many of them, studying abroad has been the last remaining pathway to education. Afghanistan is experiencing one of the most severe humanitarian and political crises in the world. Limiting access to legal visa routes risks closing doors for people who are trying to build a better future through education and lawful migration. 

We are particularly concerned that while the government has restricted student visas for several countries, it has chosen to suspend work visas specifically for Afghan nationals. Singling out Afghans in this way unfairly penalises a population already facing extraordinary hardship. As a society, we must do more to advocate for and challenge policies that risk closing one of the last doors still open to them. We respectfully ask the Home Secretary to review this decision and ensure that genuine Afghan applicants are not unfairly affected.

ACAA also emphasises that it remains supportive of constructive and humane migration policies. The Charity is grateful to the UK Government for offering sanctuary to over 37,000 Afghans through its two resettlement schemes since 2021, providing vital protection for those fleeing conflict and persecution.

The charity further welcomes the Government’s pledge to open new capped safe and legal routes as an alternative to dangerous small boat crossings, and would be interested in cooperating with the UK Government to support the development of effective and humane pathways.

At the same time, ACAA expresses concern over recent reductions in asylum-related spending. The Charity opposes Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s decision to cut £1 billion from the asylum support budget, warning that such reductions undermine the support systems needed for vulnerable people seeking protection.

ACAA continues to work closely with Afghan communities across the UK, providing integration support, advice services, education programmes, and humanitarian assistance. The Charity also operates projects inside Afghanistan delivering vital aid to vulnerable communities.

The charity calls on the UK Government to engage with civil society organisations, universities, and Afghan community groups to ensure that immigration policies safeguard both the integrity of the visa system and the opportunities available to those genuinely seeking education and safety.

Two exhibitions celebrating diversity in Brent!

 Guest post by Philip Grant in a personal capacity.

   

The “Celebrating Brent’s Somali community” display at Kingsbury Library.

 

One of the best things about living in Brent is the rich diversity across the borough. This is reflected in the way we may look, dress, speak and worship differently, yet can all live side by side as ordinary human beings, and enjoy a great variety of shops, eating places and cultural activities.

 

Brent Museum and Archives, working with volunteers from the community, currently has two small exhibitions in local libraries which celebrate parts of this rich mix. As you may not know about them, I am writing a short piece to share this information, so that you can go and enjoy these displays if you wish to (and I hope you will).

 

There have been Somali people in Brent for more than forty years. The colourful “Celebrating Brent’s Somali community” has been on display at Kingsbury Library since January, and is likely to be there until at least after the school Easter holidays (something to do with your children?). It features a variety of objects from the parts of East Africa where Somali peoples originate from, and shares the stories of some Somali community figures in Brent, including a local councillor. Well worth a visit if you are in the area, or perhaps attending one of the other events which Brent Libraries put on at Kingsbury Library.

Part of the “Portraits of Brent” exhibition at the Willesden Gallery.

 

“Portraits of Brent” is a new exhibition at the Willesden Gallery, on the ground floor of Willesden Green Library. It shares stories of Brent residents whose backgrounds are from South West Asia and North Africa, including portraits of them and objects they have contributed which reflect the cultures their families have brought to our area. Alongside these exhibits is a beautiful modern painting depicting the House of Wisdom, a medieval public library and centre of learning in Baghdad, which was destroyed in a Middle Eastern war (not recently, but more than 750 years ago!).

 

The exhibition’s welcome board.

 

The “Portraits of Brent” exhibition will be available to visit until late April. It is part of a range of exhibitions reflecting various communities which make up Brent’s rich tapestry (I can remember earlier ones featuring Brazil, the Caribbean and Romania, and there have been others as well). These are helping to ensure that the Brent Museum and Archives collections represent everyone in our borough (not just the White British like myself!).

 

I hope you will take the chance to visit these exhibitions, which help us to enjoy the diversity we share in Brent. I believe that diversity is a strength for our community, and that we can and do live and work well together in a multi-cultural society, unlike the former Conservative Home Secretary – twice removed! – who grew up in Brent, and has now transferred her ambition for power to Reform UK! Her political prejudice has no place in our borough.

Philip Grant.

London Assembly Report: 'We cannot allow London to become a place where only a small number of families can afford to live and even fewer can manage to enjoy a good quality of life'

 

Wembley Matters has covered the declining primary school population in thhe borough over the past two or three years with soome schools reducing the number of classes in each year group and with the possibility of amalgamation or even closures on the horizon. Brent is not affected as much as some London boroughs but it is still an issue. Several factors have fed the decline including the number of European families leaving after Brexit, movement out of London due to affordable housing unavailablity (including Brent Council's policy of moving families on the housing list out of the borough), lack of housing for bigger families and low incomes and long working hours.

 

A report from the London Assembly, 'A London for every child - Reversing the city's declining population' tackles the issue LINK: 

 

WILL LONDON BECOME A CHILDLESS CITY

A survey of Londoners has found that almost a third (30 per cent) consider the city to be an unsuitable place to raise children, with four in ten Londoners (41 per cent) considering it to be a suitable place.

 

London is facing a significant demographic challenge. After a decade of rapid growth in the 2000s, the number of children living in London has since gone into decline at a faster rate than elsewhere in the UK since the early 2010s.

 

Between 2013 and 2023, London’s population of 0-9 year olds decreased by 99,100, despite the overall population of the capital increasing by 506,000 during the same period. The decline has been sharper in Inner London than Outer London. This has given rise to concerns that London – and particularly Inner London – could become a “child-free area”.

 

The London Assembly Economy, Culture and Skills Committee has today launched its report - A London for every child: Reversing the city’s declining child population – setting out steps for the Mayor to make London a more child-friendly city.

 

Families in London face serious financial and practical barriers, including the cost of childcare and housing. For families who stay in the capital, they are often faced with new housing developments that are designed to discourage children playing in their community, or unwelcoming attitudes from neighbours or the authorities.

 

The declining number of children is having a notable effect on London’s school system. Schools with falling roll numbers are facing increasing financial pressure since their funding is provided on a per-pupil basis. In recent years, this has resulted in a rise in the number of schools in London that have closed or merged due to falling pupil numbers.

 

Key recommendations in the report include:

• London should seek to become a UNICEF Child Friendly City. The Mayor should identify the steps required for London to achieve this recognition and pursue actions that enable him to do so.
• The Mayor should include specific requirements for homes suitable for children across all types of tenure in the next London Plan. These requirements should be included in the draft London Plan, which is due to be published in 2026.
• The Greater London Authority (GLA) should develop a map of all the spaces in London that children and young people can access for play and informal recreation. This would help boroughs identify where they have a deficit or surplus of provision and support cross-borough collaboration.

Hina Bokhari OBE AM, Chair of the London Assembly Economy, Culture and Skills Committee, said:

Children and young people are essential to London’s vibrancy as a global city. Providing the right conditions for children to flourish as they grow up and choose to remain here as adults is essential to the city’s long-term economic, social, and cultural dynamism, which further benefits the rest of the country.

We cannot allow London to become a place where only a small number of families can afford to live and even fewer can manage to enjoy a good quality of life.

The cost of housing and childcare, housing developments that are not designed with children in mind, and systems and attitudes that make family life more difficult are contributing to the declining number of children in the capital.

We heard that falling pupil numbers are placing real pressures on London’s schools. As enrolments decline, so too does funding, which makes already tight budgets even harder to manage. 

This can lead to difficult decisions, including reducing the extracurricular activities that enrich pupils’ experiences, or cutting back on essential supports for children with special educational needs and disabilities. 

London must prioritise keeping children and families in the city. Without urgent action, we risk seeing even more families take the decision to leave and set up their lives elsewhere.

 

 

In Brent the recent building programme under the leadership of Muhammed Butt and Shama Tatler has failed to address the housing needs of the majorty of Brent families. 

The report addresses all the factors  that have contriibuted to the decline in London's child population but I think the section on housing is particularly pertinent;

 

We found that the availability and affordability of suitable housing are key factors in the decision to have children in London. The lack of affordable housing is particularly pronounced in Inner London.Over the last decade, house prices in London have increased faster than earnings, and less than half of London households own their home, compared with around two-  thirds in all other UK regions.53 In September 2025, the average price of a home in London was £556,000, compared with the England average of £293,000. 

 

 

Affordability is also a key issue for renters, since London has a larger private rental sector than other UK region and the highest average rent in the country. In October 2025, the average monthly rent in London (£2,265) was 60 per cent higher than in England as a whole (£1,416) When we asked Londoners about the main reasons they might consider leaving the capital, respondents most often cited housing pressures, including the high cost of buying or renting.

 

Many young people understandably want to own their own home before having their first child, but this is out of reach for most Londoners. In 2024, the median home in London cost 11.1 times the median salary, compared with 7.7 times across England.57 The Office for National Statistics considers anything above five times annual income to be unaffordable. In its submission to our call for evidence, the G15, which comprises London’s leading housing associations, stated that housing costs “have consistently outpaced wages and welfare support, making London fundamentally unaffordable for many families who would otherwise choose to stay in the city.”

 

 For those who stay in London, Susie Dye noted that unaffordable housing results in suppressed households, where “young adults [are] still living with their parents because they cannot get that first home”.59 Ultimately, this will impact whether many young Londoners feel in a position to raise children in the city.

 

The high cost of housing is also a major driver of poverty in London. Katherine Hill (Strategic Programme Manager, 4in10) observed that “people simply cannot afford to bring up their children” in most Inner London boroughs and that they are “faced with the choice of not having any children or moving out to have them.”

 

Echoing this point, Susie Dye emphasised:

 

“If you cannot find somewhere stable and affordable to make a home and bring up a family, then either you delay that or you move away.”

 

Alongside affordability, the shortage of family-sized homes in both the social and private sectors is making London increasingly unviable for families with children. However, data from the 2021 census shows that homes in London have fewer bedrooms on average than elsewhere in the country, with just 47 per cent of London homes having three or more bedrooms, compared with 63 per cent in the rest of England.62 Between 2016 and 2025, under the GLA’s Affordable Homes Programme, the vast majority (78 per cent) of homes delivered were 1 or 2 bed homes. 19 per cent of homes had 3 bedrooms and just 3 per cent had 4 or more bedrooms.

 

This represents just 11 per cent of the need for 3 bed homes and 8 per cent of the need for homes with 4 beds or more, based on the GLA’s Strategic Housing Market Assessment. The G15 noted in its response to our call for evidence that this “lack of appropriate housing is likely to influence families leaving London or deciding against having more children.”

 

When we asked Londoners about the main reasons they might consider leaving the capital, several cited the lack of space in housing as a major reason for them considering leaving London.

 

We are concerned that even where family-sized homes are built, families with children are not able to access them. Susie Dye claimed that data suggests that family-sized homes in London are being occupied by shared tenants, particularly young professionals without children.

 

A further negative effect of the lack of suitably sized homes for families is overcrowding. In its submission to our call for evidence, the G15 stated that London has the highest levels of overcrowding in England. It noted that many families “are raising children in homes that are too small, with little prospect of moving to a larger property.” The G15 referenced research conducted by one of its members in 2022, which found that of families with one child, 34 per

cent live in overcrowded conditions in London, compared with 12 per cent outside the capital.

 

This provides strong evidence of unsuitable housing conditions for families in London

 

Half of councillor members of Scrutiny Committee absent for consideration of the Urgent Treatment Centre hours reduction.

 

   

After three attempts and a 570 signature petition, Brent Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny at last considered, albeit in a limited way because the proposal has been implemented, the reduction in hours at Central Middlesex Urgent Treatment Centre. Hours were reduced by 3 hours daily from February 1st, 2026.

 

The London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust was represented by Pippa Nightingale. As on the other occasions, no papers were tabled from the Trust. Councillors and public were denied any evidence on which to base their questions.

 

Furthermore, attendance at the meeting was low, the place for Brent Healthwatch remained empty, and to cap it all the livestream was not working for the presentation by Amandine Alexandre and Ms Nightingale's initial response. The public were denied their right via the livestream or watching the recording, to see and hear democracy in action and hold it to account.

 

Fortunately, I had my mobile phone with me, and the wobbly recording above must suffice.

 

There may well be case for the reduction in hours, but our grievance was twofold: 1. The consultation was inadequate, rushed, reached too few people, the result not full reported and implemented without notice and 2. Scrutiny Committee had not done its job of fully examining the proposal and had to be forced by public pressure to put it on the Committee's Agenda. The latter appeared to have been done reluctantly by Committee Chair Cllr Ketan Sheth who before and after Ms Nightingale's appearance emphasised what a busy person she was, regretted the short notice she had been given (this has been going on for weeks) and seemed to be suggest we were all privileged to be in her presence and that by calling for accountability we were an inconvenience. 

 

Neither Chair, Cllr Ketan Sheth nor the Vice Chair of the Committee, Cllr Ihetsham Afzal, asked any questions of the Trust representative. Cllr Abdi Aden, Cllr Bhagwani Chohan, Cllr Arshad Mahmood, Cllr Tazi Smith, and Cllr Diane Collymore were all absent. 

 

So, no livestream and half of councillors absent - accountability?

 

Those councillors who did attend did their best and notably Co-optees Rachelle Goldberg (Jewish Faith Schools) and Archdeacon Catherine Pickford (Church of England Faith Schools) asked extremely pertinent questions that sometimes made Pippa Nightingale appear complacent and not in touch with the lived experience of local patients.

 

There were several areas where Ms Nightingale's account was at odds with the facts. She claimed the petition had not been received until after the reduction in hours was implemented. In fact it was tabled at Scrutiny Committee on January 19th LINK and was implemented on February 1st (but not announced until February 2nd).

 

She claimed that the 'Have Your Say' process undertaken by the Trust was an 'engagement’ exercise and not a not a formal consultation that befitted a minor local change rather than anything significant.

 

On the engagement/consultation Pippa Nightingale claimed the majority of patients said that the change in hours would make 'minimum impact'.   This is the Trust's own FoI response LINK.

 

  

So only if you add the ‘Unsures ‘to ‘No Impact’ and ‘Minor Impact’ can you make that claim. Faced with the fact that the engagement/consultation had only 42 responses, compared with the 570 petition signatories, Ms Nightingale said lots of people on Patient Panels had responded. Unfortunately, though my FoI asked for information, ’...to include reports, statistics and comments made by organisations or individuals (latter names redacted)' no reports from Patient Panels were included in the Trust's FOI response.

 

The in-person events only attracted 2 people.

 

Another 'insignificant change' came up at the end of the meeting - another change that was implemented despite local opposition from patients. This was the closure of the Hydrotherapy Pool at Northwick Park Hospital. Implemented last August, Pippa Nightingale said closure had been a success with patients treated by NHS staff at several council sports centres and some referrals to 'Stanmore' (National Orthopaedic Hospital). Surely another issue calling for evidence and a proper report to Scrutiny Committee rather than just verbal assurances? 

 

The post-election administration, whatever the political balance, must strengthen the scrutiny process so that it properly reflects the council's duty to stand up for local concerns. 

NOTE: Throughout Pippa Nightingale referred to the Urgent Care Centre, rather than the Urgent Treatment Centre. I understand that Urgent Care Centre is old terminology and referred to a less comprehensive offer than what are now called Urgent Treatment Centres. I am left not sure what the provision is at Central Middlesex Hospital.

 

Published and promoted by James Paton on behalf of Brent Green Party, c/o 23 Saltcroft Close, Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 9JJ.