Brent Planning in a time of climate and ecological emergency - online 7pm Monday

 

Just  quick reminder of Monday’s Meeting at 7pm about Planning and Sustainability, How can we ensure that new developments protect and enhance our enviornment and prepare for extreme climate events. AN INVITATION FROM BRENT ACTION ON CLIMATE EMERGENCY (ACE Brent) NOVEMBER 3RD  7PM ONLINE Dear friends, colleagues, and neighbours,   We are writing to invite  you to a meeting about ‘Planning and the Climate and Ecological Emergency’ to be held on Microsoft Teams on November 3rd7pm-9pm. Brent ACE (Action on the Climate Emergency) have convened the meeting that will include councillors and council officers as well as campaigners and community groups.   It is 6 years since Brent declared a ‘Climate and Ecological Emergency’. We all know that enormous changes are happening in our borough and its local neighbourhoods, and these are often controversial. People often feel left out of decision making or that their views are ignored. Meanwhile climate change and the loss of biodiversity accelerate.   Planning and regeneration are major issues locally, so ACE is holding a meeting devoted to that subject.   This is a chance to air your views at a meeting chaired by ACE.   The draft agenda will include: - Planning and trees, access to green space, reclaiming front and back gardens for biodiversity and drainage - Public consultation / involvement - Brent Local Plan review  MEETING DETAILS 7pm November 3rd We recommend trying the link beforehand in case of difficulty. Microsoft Teams Need help? Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 367 702 632 966 Passcode: S5PX3vm6   We look forward to seeing you at the meeting if you can make it and attach details about ACE and its activities and how to join us.   You can contact ACE for more information: ace@brentfoe.com   MEMBERS OF ACE  Brent Cycling Campaign | Brent Friends of the Earth | Brent Parks Forum | Brent Pure Energy | Brent XR | Divest Brent | Cycletastic | Brent Healthy Streets | Friends of the Welsh Harp | One Kilburn Transport Committee | Life in Kilburn | Brent Eleven Streets Residents Association | Friends of Woodcock Park

LETTER: Regeneration has made no difference to deprivation index in South Kilburn

 

 

Dear Wembley Matters,

 

The government has just released its "English indices of deprivation 2025" https://deprivation.communities.gov.uk/ . The media has been full of this story, looking at the most deprived areas of the country, making for depressing reading. The site allows you to put in your full postcode and find where it fits in the national picture, narrowed down to areas with about 1,500 residents.

 

Its not a competition, no area should have to endure the multiple deprivation revealed, but I thought I'd look a bit closer to home. My part of South Kilburn is rated among the 20% most deprived areas of the country. This despite 20 years of regeneration which, we were told, would raise the standard of living in the area (the rest of South Kilburn has roughly similar results). One Councillor at the start of regeneration was always keen to tell us how bringing in people with higher salaries would raise the standard of living for everyone in the area (an understanding of basic arithmetic was never their strong point). Rather, it has made no difference. Hardly surprising, given the poor quality of the new housing, the general neglect of the area by the Council and the fact that they have introduced expensive housing into the area.

 

Given Brent Council now tells us that regeneration of South Kilburn will continue for another 30 years, your readers may understand the cynicism of residents who feel that whoever is benefiting, it's not them.

 

Pete Firmin, South Kilburn resident

 

Brent Council issues details on how it will comply with Awaab's Law to ensure safe and hazard free council housing

 Brent Renters Union launch #NotAnotherWinter Campaign 2023

 

I wrote recently about Brent's Housing Revenue Account and the strain it is under financially and regarding capacity to implement repairs and Awaab's law.

Today the Council issued an update regarding Awaab's Law:

Awaab's Law  A new law came into effect on Monday 27 October to ensure social housing is safe, healthy and free from serious hazards. The law is named after Awaab Ishak, aged two, who tragically died in 2020 after prolonged exposure to damp and mould in his home. Under this law, social landlords like us must act quickly whenever residents report issues such as damp and mould. When you report emergency hazards or damp or mould, here’s what will happen: Emergency hazards (for example, dangerous electrical faults, damaged external doors or windows, or major leaks) will be investigated and made safe within 24 hours Significant damp or mould will be investigated within 10 working days and made safe within five working days If further work is needed to prevent the hazard returning, we’ll start or plan the repairs within five working days. All work will begin within 12 weeks at the latest You’ll receive a report and action plan within three days of our visit We’ll keep you informed throughout the process If there’s significant damp and mould, we’ll support you through the next steps If you notice any of the following, please report it as soon as possible: Damp, mould or condensation that keeps coming back Leaks or plumbing issues Cracks in walls or ceilings Broken windows or ventilation Any condition that affects your health or safety To report an emergency, urgent, routine or standard repair call: 020 8937 2400. You can also report non-urgent repairs online via My Account.

Preventing Damp and Mould While Awaab’s Law ensures your home is safe and free from hazards, there are also simple steps you can take to help keep damp and mould at bay this winter: Let air flow Open windows regularly, especially after cooking or bathing Keep trickle vents or air bricks clear and open Avoid blocking air vents or covering radiators with furniture Control condensation Use extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms if fitted Wipe away moisture on windows and sills in the morning Cover pans when cooking Dry clothes outdoors when possible, or use a vented tumble dryer Keep your home warm Try to maintain a steady temperature - cold homes are more prone to condensation Use your heating system efficiently; small amounts of heat throughout the day can help Report problems early Tell us about leaks, broken extractor fans, or recurring mould straight away Don’t try to paint over mould - this only hides the problem temporarily If you have any questions about damp and mould please get in touch with our dedicated team by emailing: dampandmould@brent.gov.uk.

Meanwhile the law applies only to social housing but there is a huge problem in the private rented sector. The Brent Renters Union launched their 2023 campaign with this statement calling on Brent Council to take action against private landlords:

 

More than 10,000 private rented homes in Brent have a serious health hazard. Damp and mould are making us sick, leading to asthma, respiratory issues, skin conditions, and  mould poisoning. 

Our children’s health is in crisis because landlords are being allowed to get away with not keeping our homes safe. Damp and mould mean people can’t use some rooms, and are overcrowded in the others. This meant that Church End had the highest Covid death rate in the country. 

Brent council has a legal duty to make sure our homes are safe but their current plan isn’t good enough. In the areas of Brent where housing is most dangerous, they’re only promising to deal with 10% of the most serious problems this year. What about the other 90% of renters left with unsafe homes?

It doesn’t have to be like this. Members of the London Renters Union in Brent have come together to create an action plan for how the council can hold landlords accountable and keep us safe. Add your name to our campaign. Together we can win safer homes for everyone. 

If you are part of an organisation, please ask them to support the campaign by sharing this petition, and 

For background info, see our factsheet here

 

 

Almost half of Brent Labour councillors missing from tonight's Labour Group Meeting

In what might be seen as an indication of a collapse in morale, the Brent Labour Group meeting this evening was barely quorate.

The defection of Rajan-Seelan to the Tories, rumours of other defections, continuing anger about  the candidate selection process and deselections, plus poor polling on the doorstep, have all contributed to a high level of dissatisfaction amongst Labour councillors.

Presumably there were some vital issues to discuss ahead of next Full Council on Monday November 10th given the financial situation of the Council and the potential cost to the Housing Revenue Account of the repairs that have to be done in response to the Social Housing  Regulator's adjudication. In addition there is now the cost of complying with Awaab's law that gives tight guidelines on dealing with mould and other health issues in social and council housing. 

Brent Green Party sets out councillor defection process

 Brent Green Party released the following statement on their website on Monday:

Following the deselection of 8 Brent Labour councillors last month and ex-Labour Cllr Rajan-Seelan crossing the floor to join the Conservative Party today [actually he became an Independent], we are aware that there is some speculation about current Labour Party councillors joining the Green Party - and potentially becoming the first Green Party councillors in Brent. 

We would be delighted to welcome anyone who shares our values of social justice, environmental responsibility, and community wellbeing to join a membership that has more than doubled since mid-October and continues to grow.

In this context, we think it’s important to inform everyone that joining the Green Party as an elected representative is a formal process of due diligence that may or may not result in a defection to the Green Party. 

The interested party needs to express an interest in joining the Green Party - they won’t be invited to defect to the Green Party. They also need to go through an interview process with the central Green Party office. 

Following this interview and a general scrutiny process, the central office will give their opinion about a possible defection and the local party will have a say in the matter as well. 

We have started our selection process for May 2026  and we’ll continue to do so over the coming weeks. 
 

Does a small anticipated crowd for Springboks v Japan on Saturday justify full road closures?

With a full road closure in Wembley Park scheduled for 12 noon to 7.40pm for the Springboks v Japan match at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, despite a smaller than usual anticipated crowd, a Wembley resident has contacted Wembley Matters to ask if this disruption is necessary:

It would seem we having full road closure when they anticipate only 15-20,000, what nonsense is this.  With only 12,500 for a full Arena maybe they will start closing the roads for Arena events?  20,000 is well under the 50,000 and should not be considered a major event to close all the roads.

As a cosequence of the road closures bus routes will be disrupted or curtailed. 

 

 

 

Ex-Labour councillor Rajan-Seelan appears on the Brent Council website as an Independent this morning

 

There was no official announcement from Cllr Rajan-Seelan or Brent Conservatives yesterday hat the Wembley Central councillor was defecting to the Conservative Group. This could be because, quite rightly, the Tories are carrying out due diligence on his request to join them.

Currently he joins Cllr Kathleen Fraser as an Independent.

Michael Maurice's Merry-go-round as Bob Blackman comes to his rescue

 

Cllr Maurice

Cllr Rajan-Seelan's defection to the Tories today makes things rather difficult for Brent Tories as there are only 5 seats in which they stand even a slight chance in the 2026 Brent Council election.

It appeared that there might be a spare when rumours emerged that Cllr Michael Maurice hadn't made it through the first stage of the Conservative's selection process at Brent West constituency and had lost an appeal against the decision. 

However, someone then had the bright idea of applying through the Brent East constituency and Maurice received backing from Harrow East MP, Bob Blackman, Chair of the Monday Club, and is back in the selection process - helped by higher echelons of the party,

As commented on this blog recently, other Tory councillors have looked a trifle uncomfortable during some of Cllr Maurice's recent speeches and interventions  particularly on the Nablus partnership issue and the racism debate. 

Tensions may now appear between the Brent East and West constituency parties over 'An embarrassment saved by his mates.' 

Big job ahead for Brent's new Director of Housing Services

 

As I write  Brent's Senior Staff Appointments Sub-Committee are meeting to interview applicants for the post of Corporate Director Residents and Housing Services. As can be seen above it is a demanding job, made all the more demanding by Awaab's Law that comes into force today and the preparation of the Action Plan that should give priorties and timeline for implementing the recommendations of the Social Housing Regulator.

The Council has already moved to improve its failing communication strategy with teants and leaseholders with a key meeting this Wednesday at the Civic Centre:

Tenant & Leaseholder Open Day - Wednesday October 9th Civic Centre 3-7pm

Meet your Area Tenancy Manager  Discuss what matters most to you  Ask questions and get advice on housing issues  Access support and useful services  Discover local organisations  Find out how you can get more involved in your local community  Pop in at any time that suits you - stay for a quick chat or for the whole afternoon. Book your free space or simply drop in on the day.

 

Join the Resident Complaints focus group

We’re committed to improving Brent’s housing complaints process and are looking for residents to share their experiences. Join a friendly group working to make the system fairer, quicker, and more effective. Your insights can help shape real improvements for everyone. What’s involved? Attend meetings at times that suit the group (six throughout the year) Share your views on how complaints are handled and suggest ways to improve the process Why get involved? Help build a complaints process that’s fair, transparent and easy to use Help make reporting and escalating complaints easier for all residents Work alongside other residents and officers to codesign and create improvements to how complaints are managed Learn more about your rights and how complaints are managed Make sure residents voices drive real change Gain skills in communication, problem solving and collaborative working We’re looking for 10-15 residents to join. Places are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. As a thank you for your time and contributions, participants will receive LoveToShop vouchers.   Want to get involved? Register your interest by 7 November 2025 by emailing: HousingFeedback@brent.gov.uk or calling: 020 8937 2459. 💡 Reminder: If you’d like to raise a Housing Management complaint, please visit our website.

It is worth noting that two former officers in the Department at Brent are now working in Southwark!

Awaab's Law

The Regulations mean landlords must:  

• Investigate any potential emergency hazards and, if the investigation confirms emergency hazards, undertake relevant safety work as soon as reasonably practicable. The investigation and the work must both take place within 24 hours of becoming aware of the hazard.
• Investigate any potential significant hazards within 10 working days of becoming aware of them;
• Produce a written summary of investigation findings and provide this to the tenant within 3 working days of the conclusion of the investigation.
• Undertake relevant safety work within 5 working days of the investigation concluding, if the investigation identifies a significant hazard.
• Begin, or take steps to begin, any supplementary preventative work to prevent a significant or emergency hazard recurring within 5 working days of the investigation concluding, if the investigation identifies a significant or emergency hazard. If steps cannot be taken to begin work in 5 working days this must be done as soon as possible, and work must be physically started within 12 weeks.
• Satisfactorily complete supplementary preventative works within a reasonable time period.
• Secure the provision of suitable alternative accommodation for the household, at the social landlord’s expense, if relevant safety work cannot be completed within specified timeframes.
• Keep the tenant updated throughout the process and provide information on how to keep safe.

Upon becoming aware of a potential hazard, social landlords should use all available information to initially determine if the hazard is a potential significant or emergency hazard and take steps to complete relevant safety work within stated timeframes.

The timelines set under Awaab’s Law are the maximum statutory timeframes in which landlords must act. Landlords can and should act more quickly if circumstances require, especially in situations where other legislation requires a faster response and/or according to their policies and procedures.

 

 

BREAKING: Cllr Rajan-Seelan crosses the floor and joins Brent Conservative Group

I understand that an announcement is due confirming that Cllr Rajan-Seelan has joined the Conservative Group on Brent Council.

BREAKING: Wembley Central councillor leaves Labour Party

 Cllr Rajan-Seelan

I understand that Wembley Central councillor, Rajan-Seelan has resigned from the Labour Party. He will continue as a councillor and, as yet, there has been no announcement that he has joined another political party.

Cllr Rajan-Seelan was one of the eight sitting councillors not selected by the Board that chose candidates for the May 2026 borough election.

His background is in engineering and he is a member of the GMB union. He currently serves on the Council's licensing committees and the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee.

Cllr Rajan-Seelan's fellow Wembley Central councillors are Cllr Sonia Shah and Cllr Ketan Sheth, 

The councillor has been offered the opportunity to make a statement to Wembley Matters explaining his move. 

Green Party Shows Strongest Broadcast Momentum of Any UK Political Party Under New Leader Zack Polanski

 From Be Broadcast

New analysis of more than 220,000 UK broadcast mentions shows the Green Party is the only political force to have increased its airtime since early September - with visibility, tone, and membership all rising under new leader Zack Polanski.

The findings come from Mission Control, a broadcast monitoring project by Be Broadcast with political analysis by Cast From Clay, tracking coverage between 1 September and 20 October 2025.

This period continues the Who Gets Heard? study released in early September - but with one major change: the appointment of the Greens’ new leader.

While every other party’s coverage fell by between 55% and 85% during the period, the Greens rose by 44%, the only positive trend recorded. Over the same timeframe, party membership surged to over 126,000, overtaking the Conservatives and more than doubling the Liberal Democrats.

“Broadcast is often the first indicator of public movement - and that’s exactly what we’re seeing here,” said Josh Wheeler, founder of Be Broadcast. “The Greens’ rise on air mirrors their rise in membership, showing how people are shifting, not just parties.”

A New Phase for Green Coverage

Between 1 September and 20 October, the Green Party achieved 13,728 broadcast mentions, with Polanski personally referenced 8,648 times - more than Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey (4,543) and close to Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch (10,074).

Despite leading a party with only four MPs, Polanski’s media presence now rivals senior figures from the major parties.

Mission Control’s language analysis shows a distinct tonal shift in how broadcasters discuss the party.

Before September, the Greens were primarily framed around protest, climate, and activism; since Polanski’s appointment, that focus has moved to fairness, jobs, prosperity, and the future.

This change has coincided with a dramatic rise in constructive coverage. Forty-one percent of mentions involving the Greens are now solution-focused or positive in tone - the highest of any national party - compared with 22% for the Conservatives and 19% for Reform UK.

“Audiences respond to clear, consistent communication,” said Tom Hashemi, CEO of Cast From Clay. “Polanski has reframed the Greens’ message from activism to aspiration - jobs, fairness, and prosperity. That’s not the language of protest, it’s the language of ambition.”

Comparative Party Performance (1 Sept – 20 Oct 2025)

Party	Broadcast Mentions (Sept–Oct)	2024 Vote Share %	MPs (2024)	Mentions per MP
Reform UK	83,776	14.3	5	16,755
Labour	43,431	33.7	411	106
Conservatives	18,695	23.7	121	155
Green Party	13,728	6.4	4	3,432
Liberal Democrats	9,468	12.2	72	132

 
 

The Greens’ per-MP broadcast ratio now outperforms Labour by more than 30 to 1 and the Conservatives by 22 to 1 - a striking change since the last report.

Their growth also came during conference season, a period usually dominated by the largest parties - suggesting that the uplift is structural, not seasonal.

“Broadcast acts as a national pulse,” Wheeler added. “When stories about fairness, cost of living, and the future start to dominate airtime, it signals something wider happening in public sentiment.”

Change Since the Last Report

Mission Control compared the September–October data with the earlier dataset covering 1 January–3 September 2025 to measure changes in relative broadcast share.

Although the timeframes differ in length, the comparison highlights which parties are gaining or losing momentum.

Party	Mentions (Jan–3 Sept)	Mentions (Sept–Oct)	% Change	Key Insight
Green Party	31,053	13,728	+44.2%	Only UK party to increase broadcast visibility since last report.
Labour	924,693	43,431	–84.7%	Attention plateau after initial post-election dominance.
Conservatives	121,251	18,695	–84.6%	Decline despite leadership speculation.
Reform UK	353,660	83,776	–76.3%	Still strong, but tone softening.
Liberal Democrats	46,468	9,468	–79.6%	Consistently underexposed.
SNP	45,308	7,373	–83.7%	Consistent but contained.
Plaid Cymru	2,194	969	–55.8%	Local strength, national quiet.
DUP	5,925	2,451	–58.6%	Static presence.
Sinn Féin	6,081	2,001	–67.1%	Focused on diplomacy over domestic debate.

 
 

While most parties lost ground, the Greens increased their broadcast footprint by 44%.
Polanski’s leadership coincided with this growth, supported by a membership surge and the party’s increased focus on social and economic issues.

“The same political climate that has opened space for Reform has also opened space for the Greens,” Hashemi added. “People are looking for something different. The question is whether Polanski can convince them that ‘different’ means Green, not Farage.”

 

Tone and Visibility by Party Leader

Leader	Mentions (Sept–Oct)	% Constructive Tone	Dominant Frame
Keir Starmer	42,385	29%	“Administrative stability.”
Kemi Badenoch	10,074	22%	“Internal reset.”
Nigel Farage	41,173	19%	“Provocation fatigue.”
Ed Davey	4,543	31%	“Community voice, limited cut-through.”
Zack Polanski	8,648	41%	“Fairness and prosperity.”

 
 

While Polanski’s tone is the most positive, other leaders show a different picture.

The Conservatives’ constructive tone sits at 22%, suggesting their recent focus on cultural and identity issues has not translated into broader resonance.

“Broadcast rewards clarity and originality,” said Hashemi. “Imitation doesn’t cut through.”

 

The Big Picture

• +44% increase in Green Party broadcast mentions since September
• 13,728 total mentions (party), 8,648 mentions (leader)
• 126,000 members, up 80% since leadership election
• Highest constructive tone of any UK leader (41%)
• Per-MP broadcast visibility 30× that of Labour

 

Together, the findings suggest that momentum and message discipline - rather than parliamentary size - are shaping modern broadcast visibility.

 

In a landscape where every major party saw its share of airtime fall, the Greens’ combination of consistency, tone, and public resonance stands out as the clearest measure of political momentum this autumn.