Formal investigation and a move requested after vulnerable dementia resident goes missing from Care Home for a second time, resulting in his hospitalisation

 

Beechwood Court

 

The partner and primary carer of an elderly man, Glen Atkins has written to Brent Council Leader, Muhammed Butt, and local MP, Barry Gardiner, following what she terms a 'profound breach of care' at Sovereign Network Group's Beechwood Court care home in Wembley.

She wrote: 

I am writing to you as an elderly carer, deeply distressed and frightened by the repeated safeguarding failures at Beechwood Court that have now endangered my partners life for a second time. 

My Partner, Glen Atkins, who has dementia and significant health needs, went missing again on Saturday 22nd of November, due to  what appears to be the lack of security and supervision from the carers.
 

On this occasion, the consequences have been even more severe: he was found in a deteriorated condition and is now in hospital receiving treatment. 

This is not only unacceptable but it is a profound breach of care. 

Following the first incident, I was assured that measures would be taken to prevent this from ever happening again. Those assurances were clearly not upheld. As his main carer, and as an elderly woman myself, I rely on the council’s systems to keep him safe. Instead, we are now living through the trauma of repeated failures that could have cost him his life. 

I am requesting the following immediate actions: 

1. A formal investigation into how my partner was able to leave the premises again despite previous alerts and assurances. 

2. An urgent review of Beechwood Court’s safeguarding procedures, including door security, staff monitoring, incident reporting, and emergency escalation processes. 

3.Immediate support in securing a safer and more appropriate placement for my partner, as I no longer have confidence in the facility’s ability to protect him. 

4. A direct meeting or call with a senior safeguarding officer within the council, within the next 7 days. 

No family should ever have to go through this once, let alone twice. The physical, emotional and psychological impact on my  Partner and on the family is immeasurable. I am asking you personally to intervene, as this situation now represents a systemic and dangerous failure affecting vulnerable adults in your borough. 

I look forward to your urgent response. 

Patricia Bryan 

 

Barry Gardiner has not yet responded and Muhammed Butt's office has just sent an acknowledgement,

 

Asif Zamir has written to Cllr Neal Nerva and Brent CEO Kim Wright in support of Patricia Bryan calling for a firmal investigation

 

My name is Asif Zamir, and I am writing to you formally to request an urgent investigation into the care and safety of Mr. Glen Atkins, currently a resident at Beechwood Court.

 

I am supporting Mr. Atkins’ partner and primary carer, Patricia Bryan, who has expressed profound distress regarding repeated safeguarding failures. On Saturday, 22nd November, Mr. Atkins—who lives with dementia—went missing from the facility for a second time. He was later found in a severely deteriorated state and is currently hospitalised.

 

Despite previous assurances following a similar incident, it is clear that the security and supervision protocols at Beechwood Court are insufficient.

 

I am formally requesting that you initiate a senior-level investigation into this case, specifically addressing:

 

The systemic failure of security measures that allowed a vulnerable resident to go missing twice.

 

The breach of previous safeguarding agreements made with the family.

 

An immediate review of the facility's fitness to provide care for residents with complex dementia.

 

To the Ward Councillors (Cc’d): I am copying you into this correspondence to formally request that you raise Member Enquiries on behalf of Patricia Bryan and Glen Atkins. We require your support to ensure transparency, accountability, and an urgent resolution to ensure Mr. Atkins is moved to a safer, more appropriate placement upon his discharge from the hospital.

 

 Given the severity of this situation and the fact that a vulnerable resident’s life has been endangered, I look forward to your acknowledgment of this email within 24 hours and a detailed response regarding the investigation steps.

 

Wembley Matters sough further information about the context of Mr Atkins'  going missing from the care home. Asif Zamir said:

 

It's alleged that CCTV was not working at  Beechwood house. Mr Atkins had been missing for approx 7.5 hrs. A contributing factor on the delay in finding him was that the staff  allegedly could not pin an exact time of when he had disappeared or the events leading up to his disappearance. 

 Mr Atkins had been taken by a members of staff to the communal area for his lunch and left unsupervised and that is when he disappeared.

When he wasreturned he had been out in bad weather and returned with wet clothes. 

Had the staff carried out their duty and provided accurate statements, there is a chance Mr Atkins could have been found earlier and prevented harm to him. There is a chain of failings.

He is in poor health in hospital; Beechwood Court have effectively evicted him whilst he is in hospital as they cannot meet his needs. The local authority must carry out their duty in helping find him a new home that meets his needs.

 

Patricia Bryan said that Mr Atkins had been found by police and returned to the Care Home who phoned to inform her.  When she arrived at the care home she was told the he'd had his medication and was in bed. When she went upstairs to his room she found him shivering and called 999. He was blue-lighted to Northwick Park Hospital where he remains. He has swollen feet with high blood sugar levels and is being treated with drugs for his diabetes and a course of insulin. Patricia said she she doesnlt know what trauma this incodent has caused and is seeking information from the consultant about his discharge.

She is looking at alternative care homes but was told that her preference would require an additional contribution of around £800 a week when that is how much pension Mr Atkins gets in a month.

 

A complicating factor is the triple involvement at the care home. It is run by Sovereign Network Group (SNG), the caring service is provided  by Westminster Homecare Limited  who have several recently renewed contracts with Brent Council, and Brent Council deals with allocations via the Adult Care Service and provides oversight.

 

A Stage 1 complaint was made to SNG on behalf of Mr Atkins and an investigation undertaken. The report on the investigation consists of a catalogue of many issues over time with the electronics and mechanism of the entrance door and a suggestion that he exited after the door was made insecure during a power outage. The conclusion has a sting in the tail: 

 

My Decision 

I am not upholding the complaint on the grounds of service failure. However, I want to be clear that this does not diminish the seriousness of the incident or the distress it caused. I fully acknowledge the impact this has had on Mr Atkins, including the deterioration in his condition and the concerns raised by Beechwood staff and social workers.

I would like to extend a further apology to you for the delay with your response. I wanted to ensure I had full scope of the situation at hand as well as tangible information/ updates to provide before responding to you. With that being said, I understand how important timely communication is and regret any additional frustration this may have caused. To compensate for this delay and in line with our policy, I will be awarding you £20 for delayed response. In line with our policy this will be credited to your rent/service charge account and visible on your statement within the next 28 days.

 

UPDATE: I emailed Cllr Nerva, Cabinet Lead Member for Adult Social Care, yesterday offering him the opportunity to make a published comment on this issue. I have only had a standard holding reply so far:  

Thank you for your email

I will respond to you as soon as possible

Frustrated Barry Gardiner MP calls on David Lammy to answer 'reasonable questions' on hunger strikers

There have been numerous calls for Barry Gardiner, Brent West MP to take up the case of constituents who are on hunger strike in the Palestine Action case.

Today on Twitter he vented his frustration and and said, ' My constituents are on hunger strike, yet ministers are failing to answer reasonable questions about their imprisonment and medical care or to meet their lawyers.'

 This is the letter he appended:

Help residents asking Barry Gardiner to urge David Lammy to act on weakening Brent hunger striker Heba Muraisi

 

Noreen and Alan Scott are Brent residents very concerned about the condition of the Palestine Action  hunger strikers. They have written to their MP, Barry Gardiner to ask him to urge Justice Minister, David Lammy, to act to prevent loss of life.

They invite residents to sign the letter by emailing  noreenscott@hotmail.co.uk or copying her into their email to Barry Gardiner. Add comments and requests in comments section below this article. Barry Gardiner's email address: barry.gardiner.mp@parliament.uk

Remember to put your address  on your email so that Barry Gardiner knows you are a constituent.

 Dear Barry,

We understand that one of your constituents, Heba Muraisi (one of the Filton 24) has been on hunger strike for since 3rd November, which is now 41 days and rising.

This is a very serious, life and death, situation and I/we are increasingly concerned that the government and its associated institutions are failing in their duty of care to this young woman, as well as seven others’ who are on hunger strike, protesting against their conditions in prison as well as the tainted political shenanigans associated with their incarceration, all of which appears to be a blatant disregard for their human and legal rights.

“After 41 days of a hunger strike, the body undergoes severe physical changes, including significant muscle loss, weakness, and a high risk of organ failure. Prolonged fasting can lead to serious health complications, including infections and neurological issues, and may ultimately result in death if not addressed.”

Heba is now reported to be in HMP New Hall in Wakefield, Yorks. From Brent this is a 3.5 hour journey by car and almost 9 hours by public transport. 

Her family, friends and thousands within our community are deeply worried about her.

Concerns have also been raised regarding the government’s failure to respond to emails and requests for meetings.

Sadly it’s become evident that the government doesn’t care as it appears to be showing a contemptuous disregard for Heba’s human and legal rights - something that’s particularly worrying as her health, as well as the health of the seven others’ on hunger strike, is rapidly deteriorating.

In the circumstances, I/we implore you to visit Heba and do all you can to raise this serious matter with David Lammy, the Minister of Justice, and other associate government departments.

As we are rapidly approaching Christmas, the season of goodwill, please acknowledge the historic struggle and suffering of the Palestinians as well as the reason Heba took the action she did, along with other members of the Filton 24: an act in protest of the Israeli government’s indiscriminate bombing of Gaza and cruel treatment of the Palestinians, which has left over 70,000 dead, including women and children, with tens of thousands homeless and bereaved at Christmas. “A plausible genocide” according to the ICJ.

In relation to genocide ministers should also be reminded that: ‘Governments have a clear, binding legal duty to prevent genocide under international law, stemming from the 1948 Genocide Convention (Article I) and customary international law, obligating all states to act to stop it, even outside their borders if they have the capacity to influence events, with this duty reinforced by the UN's "Responsibility to Protect" (R2P) doctrine. This obligation requires states to take measures to prevent and punish genocide, not just react to it, with failure to do so potentially leading to state responsibility and even complicity.’

We should therefore remember, had the government honoured their responsibilities the Filton 24 would not have taken the action they did. 

Enough is enough! It’s time to acknowledge what’s going on. We must honour our duty and responsibilities as a nation to speak out and end the unnecessary suffering and complicity.

Please call for the immediate bail of Heba and the other seven hunger strikers. Address all their concerns in compliance with the law and their human rights.

Signed:

Noreen Scott

Alan Scott

Saba Qureshi

Martin Francis 

 Fitzroy Lee 

Carol Madeleine Foster

Sheila Novak

Soodi Balali

Nushzad Nazemi 

Erika Shipley

Chris Griffen

Sohail Ahmed 

Gaynor Lloyd

Keith Perrin 

Add your name by emailing Noreen Scott:   noreenscott@hotmail.co.uk include your address.

 

 

Ask Barry Gardiner & Dawn Butler to intervene on behalf of their constituents on hunger strike

 

 

From Prisoners4Palestine

 

Sign Early Day Motion to help your constituent on a hunger strike in British prison

 

Dear [MP NAME], 

My name is [X] (Y address). I am writing as your constituent to call on you to immediately sign the Early Day Motion ‘Palestine Action hunger strike’ to respond to the ongoing hunger strikes of seven prisoners held on remand for alleged actions in solidarity with Palestine. Qesser Zuhrah, Heba Muraisi (Barry Gardiner) and Lewie Chiaramello (Dawn Butler) are your constituent/s - you have a duty to their health.

 

The hunger strike began on 2nd November and is now entering its second month.

 

5 prisoners have already been hospitalised. During their hospitalisations, they were prevented from contacting their next of kin and legal team, which is a breach of their fundamental rights.

 

We support all of the hunger striking prisoners’ demands. We call on you to grant them immediate bail and the right to a fair trial, and we express grave concern for their rapidly deteriorating health and their reported mistreatment in prison. We also ask for the full disclosure of documentation surrounding their legal case which has so far been censored. 

 

As Member of Parliament you have a duty to your constituent, to ensure their safety and upholding their fundamental rights, and we demand you act without delay.

 

Kind regards, [Name, address - need your residential address or it will not get processed]

 

There is also an e-action on the prisoners from the Palestine Solidarity Camapaign HERE

Write to your MP: Sign the EDM on prisoners on hunger strike in Britain

Seven prisoners associated with Palestine Action are currently on hunger strike in protest over the repressive and inhumane conditions of their detention in British prisons. Their health is deteriorating quickly, so they need urgent intervention.

These prisoners are facing trial for allegedly taking action to prevent arms manufacturers from shipping weapons to Israel, used in its genocide against the Palestinian people. It is the perpetrators of genocide, and the British politicians and companies arming them, who should be facing trial.  

John McDonnell MP has tabled Early Day Motion (EDM) 2386 calling on the Secretary of State for Justice to intervene and make sure the prisoners' conditions are improved and their rights are upheld. 

Please take two minutes to email your MP to ask them to sign EDM 2386.

Brent West MP Barry Gardiner pulls no punches over Starmer inadequacies

 

The people's Gardiner going in on Keir Starmer is👌🏼pic.twitter.com/cseRyMYGBU

— Cllr Martin Abrams 🕊️🍉 (@Martin_Abrams) November 12, 2025

Barry Gardiner calls on 'supine' Government to demand release of constituent Aaron White, 'kidnapped' my Israeli forces from m.v. Alma on its way to deliver food and medical aid to Gaza

 

See Aaron's Instagram post LINK
 

After an Instagram campaign calling for him to act on the abduction of his Brent West constituent Aaron White, by the Israeli forces, Barry Gardiner has written to  Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, calling on her to secure his release.

Aaron White was sailing with the Global Sumud Flotilla to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver food and medical aid.

Gardiner called the Israeli interception a 'kidnapping' and an 'act of piracy' on the high seas. 

Accusing the Government of being 'mute' in the face of the Israeli imposed famine, he concluded:

When future generations look back on the role British politicians played in the destruction of Gaza and its people, let them not say 'Just like politicians in all the genocides before.they stood by and said nothing.'

All the nuance and fine scholarly arguments that government lawyers provide to excuse our current complicity will count for nothing.  People will look back and condemn us as supine.

 

 

LETTER: Why I will stand against Barry Gardiner at the next General Election

 

Graham and Barry 

 

 Dear Editor,

 

On Saturday 6 September I was one of 890  people arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for holding a cardboard sign. I was held for 12 hours and released at 

4.30 am on Sunday morning from Ilford police station, 18 miles from my home in Brent.

Barry Gardiner MP or Brent West voted for the proscribing of the non-violent group Palestine Action under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and is therefore personally responsible for the arrests of peaceful protestors in Parliament Square including blind people,many very elderly people and many people there from religious groups like the Quakers. The police were rough with anyone who refused to give their names before seeing a solicitor - I am a 71 year old grandad and was double handcuffed and thrown on the floor of a police van for an hour.

Today I announce that I will be standing against Barry Gardiner at the next General Election as I hold him personally responsible for the arrests and police brutality, but mine is not a revenge mission.

Gardiner is now a media favourite and regular on the BBC and Nigel Farages GBNews. His role is to defend the Starmer government when they cut Winter Fuel payments, attack disabled people,privatise the  NHS, allow further fossil fuel drilling and above all continue to sell arms to the Israeli Defence Force which is committing genocide in Gaza.

This latter role is no surprise for Gardiner is a big supporter of Israel, a former vice -chair of Labour Friends of Israel, who fully supports Zionism and its horrors against defenceless Palestinians.

Gardiner is a rich man who has drawn a big salary for his 28 years in Parliament - he currently receives £94k a year. He has lost touch with the working people of Brent and  when I am elected I will only  accept an average workers wage.

I stand for a better public NHS, green energy, nationalisation of the water companies, expansion of rail travel, a wealth tax on the richest and much else. Above all I oppose the genocide in Gaza and the West Bank.

Contact me : grahamdurham@hotmail.com

Leader of Brent Council, Muhammed Butt, 'shares alarm' over Northwick Park Hospital Hydrotherapy Pool

Wembley Matters reader and contributor Philip Grant wrote to Cllr Muhammed Butt, leaer of Brent Council, about the closure of the Northwick Park Hospital Hydrotherapy Pool. This is Cllr Butt's response:

 

Dear Mr Grant,

Thank you very much for your email regarding the closure of the hydrotherapy pool at Northwick Park Hospital and for sharing the recent article and context with us.

As you rightly pointed out, the decision to close the hydrotherapy pool ultimately rests with the North West London University Hospitals NHS Trust. However, we completely understand and share your alarm about the potential impact this closure may have on Brent residents who have come to rely on this valuable service.

Our Lead Member for Public Health and Adult Social Care, Councillor Neil Nerva, will be reaching out to the Trust to gain a clearer understanding of the rationale behind this decision and to learn what, if any, mitigating measures are being considered. We firmly believe that the voices of patients, staff, and the wider community should be taken into account in any major changes to local health services.

Additionally, Barry Gardiner MP is raising this issue at the highest levels within the NHS, following representations from concerned residents and stakeholders. We welcome this intervention and will remain in close contact with him to support efforts to ensure there is proper engagement and consideration of alternative solutions.

Thank you once again for bringing this matter to our attention and for your continued advocacy on behalf of the community.

Regards

Muhammed

Cllr Muhammed Butt
Leader of Brent Council. 

BREAKING: MLM Property Management to take over management of 'several' Quintain blocks from FirstPort including Emerald Gardens

 In 2015 First Port announced  with a fanfare that they had been appointed by Quintain to manage the Emerald Gardens scheme in Wembley Park. FirstPort wins Quintain’s Emerald Gardens regeneration project

Nearly 10 years on they are handing Emerald Gardens over to MLM Property Management.

CHANGE OF MANAGEMENT – Emerald Gardens, North West Village, Wembley, London, HA9 0FT

As you may be aware, FirstPort will sadly no longer be managing Emerald Gardens from 19 August 2025. We are deeply disappointed to lose you as a customer and we will ensure the handover of information is as seamless as possible so that there is minimum disruption to you and your fellow residents.

Your new managing agent is MLM - Michael Laurie Magar and they will take over all management responsibilities on 19 August 2025.

The balance owed on your account at 18 August 2025 will be removed from our system and transferred over to MLM - Michael Laurie Magar - this will include any credits accrued on the account. All funds owed at that point will need to be paid to your new agent and not FirstPort. If you pay for your charges by Direct Debit, this will be cancelled on our system.

On behalf of FirstPort, I would like to wish you all the best in the future with your new managing agent, and If you have any questions or need assistance, please visit our Contact Us page at https://www.firstport.co.uk/contact-firstport/.

MLM confirmed to Wembley Matters they are taking over the management of several of Quintain's Wembley Park blocks in addition to Emerald Gardens but full details will only be revealed when a press release in agreed with Quintain.

 Much has happened regarding FirstPort since 2015.. In 2018 here were complaints from residents in other blocks in Wembley Park about steep rises in service charges  Forum and Quadrant residents face huge service charge increases  that FirstPort tried to justify  First Port attempt to justify leap in service charges at Quadrant Court, Wembley Park

Barry Gardiner MP for Brent West brought up the conduct of several managing agents, including FirstPort in the Westminster Hall Leaseholders and Managing Agents debate on the 28th February 2023 LINK 

 Gardiner said about FirstPort:

 FirstPort’s response to those and the more than 500 more complaints like them that I have received is to make no response and ignore things for as long as possible—for months and years, not days and weeks. There is a lack of accountability and transparency over what the residents are charged for and whether the costs are reasonably incurred and reasonable in amount. There is a total failure to provide leaseholders with a breakdown of service charges. Many of my constituents can wait more than 20 months for accounts to be finalised.

Even when FirstPort admits that refunds are owed to the leaseholder because of double counting, overcharging or charging for services not provided, the requests for the return of the overpayments are often ignored, or the returns can take many months to be made. FirstPort also charged multiple administration penalty charges of £60 each when someone queried the costs. One resident ended up being billed for more than £400 of admin charges and was then browbeaten into paying because of the threat of legal action.

In 2019, Nigel Howell, the then chief executive, conceded to me that it was unlawful for his company to impose late penalty fees on leaseholders who had disputed their charges—but not all leaseholders have been refunded. Nigel Howell also confirmed to me that his company had charged costs for areas not under FirstPort’s management and promised that a 20% refund would be given in the following year’s accounts. Strangely, Nigel Howell was removed from his post as chief executive.

After years of suffering, one brave, resilient resident finally took FirstPort to the tribunal. FirstPort sought to rely in its defence on two factors: it tried to rely on the payments made by leaseholders—in other words, by paying up they had intimated consent; and, especially ironic given the FirstPort practice of delay, it tried to rely on the length of time the leaseholder had taken in bringing the challenge to the tribunal.

On Friday 13 January, the last working day before the hearing, I received the following email in my office from my constituent at 5 pm:

“They are settling all of the claim. Their lawyers harassed me all week and made the offer on Friday afternoon, just hours before the hearing this Monday. They did not want this case heard as they have been lying to Barry. They owe money to 202 families.” 

Complaints from residents across the country moved Labour MPs to convene a meeting with FirstPort about their concerns in January this year. FirstPort under fire from MPs over service charge hikes   

David Pinto-Duschinsky, who co-chaired the meeting with FirstPort, said: 

I’ve had dozens and dozens of complaints about FirstPort’s unacceptable service charge hikes, poor service and lack of responsiveness and transparency.

All too often they are using leaseholders as little more than cash cows to be milked for every penny. People are paying more and more, and getting less and less. Enough is enough, this group of Labour MPs has come together to do everything we can to hold these unscrupulous managing agents to account.

In the same month leaseholders in Faversham Lakes new build project managed to oust FirstPort as managing agents: FirstPort dropped from Kent housing estate amid residents’ revolt over fees

 In February this year the relevant  trade body suspended FirstPort:  FirstPort suspended from its own trade body the Property Institute

How will our MPs vote on a Third Runway for Heathrow?

 Keir Starmer voted against a Third Runway for Heathrow back in 2018 but has changed his mind as part of Labour's growth, growth and more growth agenda.

But how did our MPs vote in 2018? 

Bob Blackman MP for Harrow East at the time defied a three line Conservative whip and voted against as did Dawn Butler ( Labour - Brent Central),  Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent North) and Karen Buck, then Labour MP for Westminster North.

That constituency is now largely Queens Park and Maida Vale represented by Georgia Gould, who is very close to Starmer.

How will they all vote this time?  Will they forget the climate emergency out of loyalty to Keir Starmer?

Barry Gardiner challenge to Government on Gaza: Show that you respect international rules-based order

There was a debate in Westminster Hall yesterday on Gaza and Humanitarian Aid instigated by one of the new Independent MPs,  Ayoub Khan (Birmingham Perry Barr), elected in the wake of the Gaza conflict.

Westminster Hall debates do not make policy but give MPs a chance to register their concerns.

This is Barry Gardiner's contribution from They Work for You

As politicians, we talk of the international rules-based system, by which we mean the World Trade Organisation and the United Nations, but often we do so only when it suits our position. When it does not, we ignore it. That is why it is crucial that we grasp the legal implications of the decision promulgated on 19 July this year by the International Court of Justice. It settled the law in its advisory opinion on the legality of Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory. The opinion came from a request by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2022, and I believe it carries immense weight. It is the interpretation of our world’s highest court of law as it relates to the occupation of Palestine.

The court ruled that the occupied Palestinian territory is to be considered a single territorial unit, which means that the failure to recognise Palestine as a state is now out of step with international law. On 10 September, Palestine took its seat at the 79th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. It is not yet a full member, because it has been blocked by the United States, but it has the right to submit proposals and amendments. The Government of the UK still does not recognise the Palestinian state, and I believe that that is now incompatible with international law.

The court ruled that settlements and outposts in the west bank and East Jerusalem were unlawful. It does not matter that Israeli law considers settlements to be lawful; they are not, and they should be evacuated. The court ruled that Israel’s exploitation of natural resources in settled land was also unlawful. The court ruled that Israel occupied Gaza. It ruled that it occupied the west bank and East Jerusalem. It ruled that that occupation was unlawful. It ruled that the occupation must be brought to an end.

That also means that, in its actions, Israel must behave not as a warring nation state against another warring state, but as an occupying force, with all the obligations that entails about its conduct, including ensuring that aid can get through to all who need it. Israel ought to cease its unlawful activities, halt all new settlement activity and provide full reparation for the damage caused by its wrongful acts, which includes returning land, property and assets seized since the occupation began in 1967 and allowing displaced Palestinians to return to their original places of residence.

The court made it clear that other states also have obligations. It emphasised that all states are required not to recognise the illegal situation created by Israel’s actions in the occupied territories. That means that they should not engage in trade, investment or diplomatic relations that would entrench Israel’s unlawful presence. The advisory opinion is a landmark in the legal and political struggle over the fate of the Palestinian people and the integrity of international law. It highlights the obligations of all states, including the United Kingdom, to ensure that the rule of law prevails. We are all duty bound not only to act in the interests of justice and human rights, but to uphold the very principles of international law. That is the law. It is clear. It has been authoritatively stated by the court. What is not clear is whether Governments will abide by it. The law can state, the court can rule, but none of it brings about anything unless the power of enforcement lies behind it.

In the UK we are very fond of saying that we respect the international court and the international rules-based order. My challenge to the Minister is this: show it.

 

 

Former Brent Labour councillor lambasts Dawn Butler for her failure to oppose cut in Winter Fuel Allowance

 

Graham Durham publicly calling for Brent MPs, Dawn Butler, Barry Gardiner and Georgia Gould, to vote to keep pensioners' Winter Fuel Allowance

Former Brent Labour councillor, Graham Durham, now a local National Pensioner Convention activist, has attacked his MP Dawn Butler for failing to oppose the cutting of the Winter Fuel allowance by the Labour government, and failing to respond to her constituents' concerns.

 

 The cut has led to a storm of protests across the country. Many are predicting that the poorest  pensioners will struggle to heat their homes this winter and over  half a million people have signed an Age UK petition opposing the cut.

 

 

 Unite the Union October 7th Lobby of Parliament

Graham Durham, aged 70, said:

 

It is sadly inevitable that some old people in Brent will die as a result of this cut  if we have a cold winter. Over 3,000 poorer pensioners in Brent East are affected so it is very sad that Dawn Butler did not vote against the cut in Parliament.

 

To add insult to injury Dawn Butler has failed to respond to constituents who wrote to her expressing concern over many months and failed to meet constituents when they joined the national lobby at the House of Commons on 7 October.

We need our local MP to stand up for us and oppose this cruel cut.

 

 

Graham Durham will be speaking about his recently published novel, A Peal of Socialism, at Kilburn Library, Salusbury Road, NW6,  tomorrow 11am-12. The novel is set in Kilburn, Cricklewood and Willesden.

Regulator finds 'serious failings' in Octavia Housing's health and safety responsibilities. The Housing Association has over 1,200 outstanding fire remediation actions, and mitigation failings

The fire at Petworth Court (Credit: London Fire Brigade)
 

Octavia Housing hit national headlines in January 2024 when Petworth Court, Elm Road, Wembley Central. It emerged that Barry Gardiner, MP, had repeatedly raised concersn about the block with Octavia with little response. The Fire Brigades Union warned of 'criminal complacency' on the part of the then government and some building firms regarding cladding.

Now the Regulator of Social Housing has issued a Regulator Judgement on Octavia Housing:

The Safety and Quality Standard requires landlords to have an accurate, up to date and evidenced understanding of the condition of their homes that reliably informs their provision of good quality, well maintained and safe homes for tenants. It also requires landlords to identify and meet all legal requirements that relate to the health and safety of tenants in their homes and communal areas, and that all required actions arising from legally required health and safety assessments are carried out within appropriate timescales.

Following a serious fire at one of its properties in January 2024 and wider review of its landlord health and safety compliance, Octavia made a self-referral to us in respect of fire, electrical and gas safety. Having sought further information including assurances on other areas of building safety, we have concluded that there are serious failings in the oversight, management, and delivery in several areas of Octavia’s landlord health and safety responsibilities.

London Fire Brigade has issued Notifications of Fire Safety Deficiencies in respect of 13 of Octavia’s buildings since May 2023. Octavia currently has over 1,200 overdue fire safety remedial actions categorised as either high or medium priority and has failed to take sufficient steps to mitigate the potential risks to tenants identified.

Octavia was unable to provide sufficient assurance that it meets other landlord health and safety requirements. Octavia has failed to hold complete and accurate records to confirm where health and safety inspections are required, whether they had been carried out within legally required or recommended timescales, and whether smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are installed as legally required.

Octavia has been proactive in engaging external support, increasing staff resource, and creating improvement plans to increase its oversight of its health and safety compliance. It is currently undertaking investigations to identify and address gaps in its records, develop an effective programme of health and safety assessments and confirm the full extent of remedial actions required to meet all legal requirements.

Octavia has reported that it recognises that it can deliver its purpose more effectively by joining another landlord and following the September 2023 Regulatory Judgement has been progressing the work needed to achieve this. Ahead of this being delivered Octavia has been able to draw on significant support from its preferred partner landlord to deliver the improvements required.

Our engagement with Octavia will continue to be intensive. We will seek evidence that gives us assurance that Octavia is making sufficient progress on its investigations and delivery of its improvement programme so that it is meeting its health and safety legal requirements and delivering the outcomes of our standards. We are not proposing to use our enforcement powers at this stage but will keep this under review as Octavia seeks to resolve these issues. Our priority will be that risks to tenants are adequately managed and mitigated.

 The housing provider that Octavia was engaged in partnership talks with is Abri that itself has been subjected to a finding of severe maladminstration in two cases by the Housing Ombudsman.  This caused Michael Gove, the then Secretary of State to write in December 2023:

In one case, you left one of your residents with faulty windows for almost five years, with the resident waiting up to a year to hear from you on multiple occasions. They were left with a cold property in the winter and issues with insects during the summer. I am disappointed to learn that these issues became so severe that she was forced to leave the property.

In the second case, you failed to deal with a complaint about damp and mould from a vulnerable resident with a heart condition and who is registered blind. You carried out the same ineffective repairs year after year, and failed to address the root causes, leaving your vulnerable resident living in poor conditions for far too long.

When your residents report an issue, and especially when vulnerable people are involved, it must be acted upon swiftly and effectively. The tragic death of Awaab Ishak has shown that we must not be complacent about issues that risk residents’ health.

I understand you have addressed all the orders and recommendations made by the Ombudsman, including overhauling your approach, processes and policies regarding damp and mould. I expect the changes to make a significant difference to the service you deliver to your residents.