Proposed Stopping-up Order near Olympic Steps - Does Brent Council really want to embarrass itself in Court?

Guest Post by Philip Grant in a personal capacity

 

The meeting where submission of the Stopping-up Order application was approved.
(Note the date!)

 

In a guest post on 1 January I asked: Why does Brent want to Stop-up “highway” near the Olympic Steps? I have had a couple of email exchanges with Council Officers about this matter since then, the full texts of which are included as “FOR INFORMATION” comments under that article (along with several comments from WM readers).

 

In the latest response, from a mid-ranking Council Officer on 8 January, it was suggested that if I had wanted to challenge the application for Brent’s proposed Stopping-up Order, I should have sought a Judicial Review of a decision made by Brent’s General Purposes Committee nearly four years ago! That was nonsense – any member of the public has the right to be heard when the application is actually made to the Magistrates’ Court.

 

The hearing is scheduled for 2pm on Thursday 22 January. But as I’m convinced that even making the application is a mistake, and unnecessary (and I can be very persistent when I feel strongly about something), I have tried one final attempt to make Brent Council see sense. As I had failed to convince them with words, I decided to use pictures as well. This is the text of the email that I sent on the morning of Monday 12 January to Brent’s Public Realm Director, Chief Executive and Director of Law (and I have asked Martin to include the “pictures” attachment below this post):

This is an Open Email

 

Dear Mr Whyte, Ms Wright and Ms Henry,

 

I have tried, in my emails of 2 and 8 January, to persuade Council Officers in words why Brent Council need not, and should not, pursue this Section 116 Highways Act Stopping-up Order application. 

 

I realise that it must be frustrating when an ordinary resident seeks to tell Officers that they are "going down the wrong road", but when I can see that the present course is wrong, and that there is a right way, I feel I have a civic duty to draw this to your attention. 

 

If my words cannot persuade you, I hope that my pictures will, so please look at the attached document. It shows that the areas of highway, which the proposed Order seeks to remove the legal right for pedestrians and vehicles to cross over, are in everyday use by the people of our borough and visitors to it.

 

Does Brent Council really want to embarrass itself in Court, by claiming that these areas of highway are unnecessary?

 

I realise that Brent Council, and Quintain Limited, wish to resolve an outstanding problem over these areas of land as "adopted public highway", and Highways Act 1980 does provide the right way to do that. It is Section 256, not Section 116:

 

 

 

[From Highways Act 1980 on www.legislation.gov.uk ]

 

 

I sincerely hope that reason and good sense can now prevail, and that the Council will withdraw its Stopping-up application from the Willesden Magistrates' Court list for Thursday 22 January. I look forward to receiving your reply, in good time before that date. Best wishes,

 

Philip Grant.

 

LETTER: When is 9.9% NOT 9.9%? Brent's core funding increase claim challenged.

 

Dear Editor,

On 21 December Wembley Matters posted a story based on Labour spin.

Stating that Brent is to get an increase of 9.9% in “core funding”.

Sadly this is not true.

The Labour Government has juggled Grants and other Government funding and came up with a figure for Brent’s ‘core spending power’.

The 9,9% assumes that the Council imposes the full 5% Council Tax rise. So the 9.9% core spending increase includes the extra local people will need to pay as part of the latest Council Tax rise and at a briefing with Finance Officers we were told that the Council Tax rise represent about a 3rd of this 9.9%. So only 6.6% - and NO Labour did not simply invert the numbers. The Labour Deputy Leader was simply not telling the truth.

The situation is even worse than this. 3 months ago we were told the overspend this year stands at £9 million. Now the Cabinet is being told on Monday the most up to date overspend is £12.5 million. An increase of £3.5 million! 

And the reason for the £3.5 million is mostly in social care - care packages more expensive because providers are passing on the higher costs of energy and staffing. And why is cost employees going up? - because Labour hiked up employers National Insurance. So Local Government is being hit the same way as the hospitality sector and any other service reliant on people to provide it.

Because these extra costs are recurring year on year the so called 9.9% (actually only 6.6%) has already been wiped out.

So the Brent Labour claims that things would get better under a Labour Government are pure fiction. 

The Lead Member for Finance is clearly completely out of her depth. Tried to mislead us on the true figures, has no control of the Brent Budget and should  resign or be sacked. 


All the best,

  
Paul Lorber (Leader of Brent Council Liberal Democrat Group)
 

London pensioners launch mass petition defence of their Freedom Pass including proposal to limit it to buses only

 

London Councils is to conduct a formal review of the provisions of the Freedom Pass LINK, the free travel pass for London Pensions that gives free transport on buses, the tube and railway networks withing the GLA boundary.

They cite an expected 12% rise in the cost to London councils in 2026-7 and a total expenditure of £372m.  One possibility is reducing the provisions to buses only.

The proposal has produced a speedy petition response (LINK TO SIGN) currently with more than 44,000 signatories.

THE PETITION 

The Issue

 

I am 71 years old, and my only income is the state pension. This means my budget is tight, and every penny counts. The Freedom Pass, as the name suggests, grants me something invaluable—freedom. This pass allows me to access not just buses, but also London's tube and overground networks. These services enable me to participate fully in the community, visiting friends, attending hospital appointments, and engaging in social activities that keep me vibrant and connected to the world.

Recent proposals to limit the Freedom Pass to buses only would be a significant blow, not just to my independence, but to thousands of pensioners and individuals reliant on this essential pass. Restricting access to trains and the tube would confine many of us to our homes, making London's vast and culturally diverse landscape inaccessible. The social isolation that many seniors already battle could deepen, and life's simple joys and necessities could become major logistical challenges, affecting our mental and physical well-being.

The Freedom Pass is a cherished entitlement for senior citizens across the city, and any move to curtail its scope jeopardizes the quality of life for those who have contributed so much to society throughout their lives. London's transport system is the lifeline for older adults, offering the independence and encouragement to stay physically active, mentally engaged, and socially involved.

Let's remember that inclusivity in mobility is a hallmark of a compassionate society. The City of London has a reputation for valuing its residents, and this means ensuring everyone, regardless of age, has unrestrained access to its robust public transportation network.

Instead of cutting back on Freedom Pass access, there should be efforts to strengthen it, ensuring the elderly remain integrated into the urban fabric. Maintain the inclusivity and respect the dignity of our senior citizens by safeguarding their ability to travel freely across the capital.

Please sign this petition to urge the local government to halt any attempts to restrict the Freedom Pass to buses alone, preserving the freedom and dignity of London’s seniors.

Lawyer Monthly LINK has pubished an interesting detailed review of the statutory and legal risk of the proposal. Here is a key extract:

The potential for civil unrest or political backlash creates a reputational risk for council leaders that extends beyond simple accounting.

Reducing mobility for the elderly has documented second-order effects on public health, which may eventually increase the burden on the National Health Service.

Local government insurers often look at social stability as a metric for risk assessment.

A sudden removal of transport rights could lead to increased social isolation, potentially triggering higher claims in social care sectors that the boroughs are also responsible for funding.

The debate has already spilled into the public sphere, highlighted by high-profile social media disputes involving media figures and authors.

These public-facing conflicts serve as a bellwether for the level of scrutiny any legislative change will receive from the broader electorate.

Strategic irony lies in the fact that the more successful the Freedom Pass is in encouraging travel, the more it threatens the solvency of the councils providing it.

This "success trap" requires a fundamental rethink of how concessionary travel is valued in a modern urban economy.

Institutional investors in London’s infrastructure are watching these developments closely.

Any sign of a breakdown in the cooperation between the Mayor of London and the boroughs could signal broader instability in how the capital manages its essential public services.

 

Together Against the Far Right - campaign building meeting January 28th 7pm Chalkhill Community Centre

 

Update on recent cases on adult social care highlighted by Wembley Matters

 I wrote in the week before Christmas about a pensioner with dementia who left his care home for 7-1/2 hours and ended up in hospital. An official complaint was made calling for an investigation. See LINK. I understand that  Glen Atkins has now moved from Beechwood Court to a residential setting that is better  able to meet his needs and safeguard his wellbeing.

I am told he is much happier in his new home, his needs are being met and he is safe.

Menwhile the first stage of the investigation has concluded that provider concerns were identified that warranted further investigations that are currently in progress.

Unfortunately in another case we covered over the holiday, that of John H in an Octavia property in South Kilburn, who was without central heating for 45 days, the outcome is not as satisfactory. His heating has been restored after 17 appointments and 45 days without heating  LINK but in the process of 'repair' parts of the system were disconnected meaning he cannot not top up credit for his heating. The engineer put in a temporary £10 credit which in the current cold weather is likely to run out quickly.

John wrote yesterday evening:

Just to update you.

No one from Octavia, Abri and Brent Council have been in touch today.

I still do not know if I will lose my heating when the 10 pounds of emergency credit runs out. 

My wall mounted meter screen remains blank and my Insite Energy credit balance is still frozen at the same amount as it was on Tuesday, when it was disconnected.

There was another case earlier this week when an elderly and vulnerable council tenant got locked out of her home and Brent Council proved less than helpful. 

Changes will needed if Brent Council is to realise its ambition to become an 'age-friendly borough'.

Barry Gardiner MP raises the case of hunger striker constituent Heba Muraisi in Parliament

Given previous coverage of calls for Barry Gardiner to act, this is the Hansard record of an exchange in the House of Commons yesterday;

Barry Gardiner MP

 

Happy new year to you, Mr Speaker. Delays in the court system mean that one of my constituents has been in prison on remand awaiting trial for over a year. She is in New Hall Prison, 200 miles away from her mother, who is disabled and cannot make that journey. She has requested a transfer to Bronzefield Prison, so her mother can visit. Today, Heba Muraisi is close to death because she has been on a hunger strike protest for 67 days. I plead with the Leader of the House to let common sense and humanity prevail, to urgently intervene to agree the transfer, and to consider allowing her release on bail to her family home in my constituency—

 

(Speaker intervened warning Barry Gardiner: Order: ‘We have to be very careful. You are getting into the details, and I cannot afford that. Have you finished?’. Gardiner accepted the ruling)

Sir Alan Campbell for the Government

 

If my hon. Friend gives me the details of the case—I am talking about where the person concerned is currently—I will raise that with the Justice Secretary. On the wider point, we continually assess prisoners’ wellbeing and will always take appropriate action, including taking prisoners to hospital if their situation requires that. If he raises the issue with me, I will not only draw it to the attention of the Justice Secretary but make sure he gets the assurances that he and the family need.

Spirits remain high and solidarity firm as ever as NEU General Secretary joins Woodfield School picket line on 12th strike day

 

 

I visited the picket line at Woodfield Special School on its 12th strike day and found spirits and energy high (just watch that dance!) and solidarity as strong as ever. They are school support staff whose support for each as well as pupils is incredibly strong.

It was clear that these school staff were not going to let the Academy Trust get away with cutting their colleagues' hours and thus their pay while they have £3m in reserves and highly paid executives.

A meeting of staff and parents has been scheduled to discuss the strike and Dawn Butler, the local MP will be contacted by NEU General Secretary Daniel Kebede to gain her support.

The strikers were joined on the picket line by supportive members of Brent TUC, Brent Green Party and Your Party. 

More Brent Labour resignations over rightwards direction of party and undemocratic local council candidate selection

 From Labour Hub

Last month, five Brent councillors in northwest London resigned from the Labour Party and joined the Greens, after local Labour members were denied the right to select candidates for the May 2026 local elections and a special ‘Campaign Improvement Board’ imposed candidates across all wards in the borough, excluding eight sitting councillors, without right of appeal. Now five members of Brent West CLP, all leading activists including former constituency officers, have also quit the Party. Here we publish their Resignation Statement.

We all joined the Labour Party as a vehicle for promoting social justice, both at home and abroad, fairness, equality, protecting the NHS and ensuring a reasonable minimum standard of living for all.  These are the values that the Party held when we first became members. 

Sadly, we have all decided to leave, as it is clear that under the current leadership these values have been abandoned in favour of protecting the status quo where the rich get richer and the majority get poorer, we  allow developers to build luxury homes which remain largely empty when we desperately need social housing, and the leadership have joined the right wing chorus in demonising immigrants rather than addressing the real causes of poverty, our unequal economy system.

On Gaza, Labour has demonstrated a lack of any decent lawful responses to the genocide and the ongoing humanitarian crisis carried out by Israel. Instead, it has assisted Israel with ethnic cleansing of Gaza and remained silent on the daily attacks on Palestinians on the West Bank. The government has supported the genocide by carrying out regular reconnaissance flights over Gaza from a base in Cyprus and sending the information to the Israelis.

Labour has taken the decision to proscribe Palestine Action and remains silent about the hunger strikers. David Lammy initially denied knowledge and continues to refuse to meet the families and lawyers of the eight hunger strikers, five who have been hospitalised, one for the second time. Their families say they are being given no information about their condition.

They have been over a year in prison pre-trial which is double the legal limit, denied bail and their plight ignored by mainstream media.

David Lammy’s proposals for no-jury trials for under 5-year sentences (for which there is no clear evidence base) will affect activists/protesters and according to over 100 senior legal experts, risks deepening disparities and eroding trust among minority communities.

On asylum seekers, we have seen Shabana Mahmood’s shameful proposals as part of this Labour Government’s general move towards adopting the rhetoric of Reform UK and the far right.

Under Labour, we have seen an increase of privatisation and outsourcing of NHS care to the private sector. The NHS is not properly funded or staffed and undervalues social care. 

With over 100,000 vacancies and a real terms funding deficit of £423 billion, the NHS is in crisis. Plans to increase outsourcing of NHS care to private providers contradict clear       evidence that this is associated with widening inequalities, increasing mortality and excessive costs – funding up to 32% profit margins for these private providers.

On the Employment Rights Bill we have seen Labour abandon its manifesto commitment to give workers rights from day one by bowing to the pro-business amendments tabled by the House of Lords.      

We have seen Labour not only abandon its Green Pledge but also propose an expansion of Heathrow Airport which will be a disaster for the environment.

At the most recent budget, Labour bowed to pressure from business and failed to apply a windfall tax on banks or any meaningful taxes that would redistribute wealth fairly.

In addition, we have witnessed Labour imposing an undemocratic selection process for local councillors in Brent. Despite vigorous opposition from the CLP and warnings about the impact on membership and active branches, London Region on behalf of the Labour Party nationally went ahead and deselected eight sitting councillors.

We are fortunate to have a local MP who continues to use all platforms available to put the case for traditional Labour values, although there are now so few voices opposing Labour’s relentless shift to the right. We will continue to campaign for socialist values but sadly this will now be elsewhere.

Elaine MacDonald (Executive Committee delegate)

Alan Scott (EC delegate)

Keith Perrin (EC delegate)

Gaynor Lloyd (General Meeting delegate)

Tim Miles (GM delegate)

 Reacting to the statement, Amandine Alexandre, Brent Green Party Local Contact Officer and Green candidate for Harlesden and Kensal Green said:

Hearing about the news that 5 members of Brent West CLP had resigned, I first rejoiced at the thought that Brent Labour Party had suffered another major loss. However, after reading their statement and being reminded again about the way Keir Starmer has betrayed Labour Party members and voters, I felt incredibly sad. The ideological direction taken by Starmer's government is having a severe impact on people's lives and future, starting with the hunger strikers, three of whom are from Brent. In the face of the intolerable cruelty and cowardice displayed by the Prime Minister and his supporters, we can only show courage, determination and open the way to a radical and far superior way of doing politics - with people's best interests in mind.

South Kilburn pensioner's heating back on after 44 days and 17 appointments

Pensioner John H's heating was finally repaired today. From Day 1 the 24th November, 2025 until today the 6th January 2026 the heating was down for 44 days. There were a total of 17 appointments arranged with SureServe of which four were attended and 13 missed.

John is a disabled  tenant of Octavia Housing at Bannister House South Kilburn.

Cllr Fleur Donnelly-Jackson commented on Wembey Matters today:  'The repair has been completed today after continued advocacy by the council's housing partnerships team. The support to the resident is ongoing. 

The saga isn't quite over. John told Wembley Matters this evening: 

All my heating is back on.

However, I now need another repair appointment to fix all the damage caused by SureServe today, including disconnecting my heating meter, which shows how much credit I have left and leaving some of my pipework exposed.

I asked Octavia to carry out the repair but they say it's not their responsibility and it's up to me to arrange the appointment with Insite Energy, who provide my heating.

 

Wednesday January 7th 2pm online Help Shape Brent Resilience Hub Toolkit

 From CVS Brent

 

Join an online focus group where your feedback will directly shape the Brent Resilience Hub Toolkit to support local communities.   Are you a Brent resident or part of a voluntary or community organisation? We’d love your input. We’re inviting residents and voluntary sector organisations in Brent to take part in an online focus group to help shape the Brent Resilience Hub Toolkit. The toolkit will bring together practical guidance, local resources, and support to help Brent communities build resilience. Your feedback will directly influence the final design and ensure the toolkit reflects local needs and experiences.   Open to: Brent residents and voluntary/community sector organisations. The session will be informal and interactive, and no preparation is needed.     REGISTER NOW

 

Ecologically diverse front gardens - what we need and how we might get there

 

 

As a child living in Kingsbury in the 1950s I was fond of the suburban front gardens of Crundale Avenue and Valley Drive - full of shrubs, flowers and the occasional specimen tree. Now many of those have been converted into parking lots..

The CPRE Front Gardens Network seeks to  stop the decline of the front garden and the biodiversity they encouraged. In a September online meeting Rosie Whicheloe, in an Independent Ecologiss capacity,  gave a stimulating  presentation on how to reverse, enhance or preserve front gardens. It began by demonstrating how the front gardens between Fryent Country Park and the Welsh Harp could be mapped as a project starting point.

Thanks to the CPRE, Front Gardens Network and Rosie for permission to post the video here. 

The London Front Gardens Network promotes de-paving and re-greening of front gardens by enabling people working in this area to exchange information and ideas, amplify the voices of individuals, and promote joint working where it can increase impact. Ultimately the aim is to re-establish important wildlife habitat; reduce river pollution and flooding caused by excessive rainwater run-off; reduce the urban heat island effect caused by paved surfaces; and make streets more pleasant to encourage walking and to promote wellbeing.

 

Suburban street in Jack Rosenthal's 'Ptang, yang, Kipperbang' (1982)

 

The UK’s disappearing gardens Most recently, in October, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) published The State of Gardening, along with first-time mapping of the UK’s domestic, public and private gardens which finds that: “Just 0.15% of domestic garden is artificial lawn but this still accounts for 7.5million m2 while artificial grass across all cultivated green space stands at 18million m2 - more than six times the size of the City of London.” “More than a third (35%) of domestic gardens comprises lawn, with 25.8% under trees and 11% as flower beds.” “42% of domestic garden space is paved over (55% of front garden space and 36% of back garden space)”  As we know, the loss of gardens adds to rising flood risk and health-harm from higher temperatures i.e. not just in official ‘heatwaves’, and reduces the role of gardens, soils and plants in supporting wild species, storing carbon, and capturing some air pollutants.   For more, see pages 12 and 13 of the report:    The RHS is calling for: Policymakers to guarantee “Space to Grow” in all housing and urban planning, so every household has access to a garden. Homeowners to consider robust planting and permeable paving for front garden driveways to help mitigate flood risk and promote the cooling potential of gardens as well as support biodiversity. Local councils to ensure diversity in tree planting, prioritising those species that will respond best to climate change. Developers to design gardens with water channelling, capture and storage facilities to help future proof them.