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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.
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.'
A special Scrutiny Committee tonight will discuss the call-in by Brent Conservatives of the Cabinet decision to site a children's home in the Barn Hill Conservation area. In their call-in the group say:
This area is in the Barn Hill Conservation area. It should be treated with respect.
Alternative course of action recommended.. To refer the decision back to Cabinet for reconsideration in order to find a cheaper alternative property in a different area
The call-in is unfortunately timed when the Liberal Democrat group are opposing, with a petition, a potential proposal to double the number of councillors needed to request a call in from 5 to 10. At present there are 5 Tories and 3 Liberal Democrats. A requirement for 10 signatures means that neither Tories on their own nor the combined opposition could request a call-in without support from at least two Labour councillors.
Cllr Butt's argument would probably be that the increase would save money on meetings as politically motivated call-ins would no longer take place.
Certainly Brent Labour moved speedily on social media to denounce the call-in.
Brent Tories do not exist on social media so I cannot post a response.
THE CABINET DECISON CALLED-IN
Cabinet (15 January 2024) received a report from the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources and Corporate Director of Children and Young People which, in line with the Brent Children’s Residential Home Business Case that had been approved by Cabinet in May 2023, sought approval for the acquisition of a property for renovation to deliver a four bedded children’s care home for young people by March 2025 which would provide four placements, three permanent and one emergency for the Council to deliver and operate a children’s residential home.
Having considered the report, Cabinet agreed to approve the acquisition with the minute recording the decision as follows:
Councillor Grahl (Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools) introduced the report, which set out the Council’s plans to acquire a property as part of the Children’s Residential Home Project.
In considering the report Cabinet noted the way in which the proposed acquisition aligned with the objectives within the Brent Children’s Residential Home Business Case approved by Cabinet in May 2023. This included not only supporting the Council in seeking to address the increasing cost of child residential placements for looked after children, with the scheme projected to save the Council approx. £290,000 on an annual basis once operational, but also in delivering the benefits associated with the additional capacity to reduce the need for out of borough placements and enabling more children and young people to receive care closer to home with access to local services and support.
Members welcomed the way in which the insourcing of this scheme would enhance service delivery and in recognising the benefits that the proposal would bring to both young people and the Council, Cabinet RESOLVED:
(1) To approve the acquisition of the property (address detailed in the exempt appendix of the report) in Wembley HA9 with vacant possession to meet the needs of young people as outlined in the Brent Residential Home Business Case approved by Cabinet in May 2023.
(2) To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Children and Young People, to agree the terms of the purchase and acquire the property subject to financial and legal due diligence, vacant possession and contract.
(3) To note that the completion of the property needs to take place by the end of January 2024 in order to allow sufficient time to renovate the property within the timescales permitted in the grant agreement with the Department for Education (DfE).
THE CONSERVATIVE GROUP CALL-IN
a) We are very concerned at the price being paid for this property which is over £1M. We feel that this is not the best use of the limited Council funds.
(b) This area is in the Barn Hill Conservation area. It should be treated with respect.
(c) There has been no consultation with the residents living in and around the site of the property or the Residents Association. This is preventing residents from voicing their opinions and objections. There has been absolutely no democracy or transparency in the matter, residents feel they have been railroaded into accepting any decision the Council makes.
(d) Neither of the two local ward councillors (Cllr Robert Johnson & Cllr Kathleen Fraser) received any notification of this until immediately prior to the Cabinet meeting on 15th January.
(e) It appears that no Planning Permission was applied for or granted. If this is the case, then what is the rationale taken as to why Planning Permission was not applied for? No statement appears to have been given.
(f) The Council is not acting in the interests of the residents in this matter. A similar care home was opened in Barn Hill which caused untold problems for those living in the area. It was only shut down when the local MP (Barry Gardiner) intervened. The residents do not want to have to deal with a similar occurrence.
Action Requested:
To refer the decision back to Cabinet for reconsideration in order to find a cheaper alternative property in a different area.
The anti-ULEZ protest that was to take place at the Brent Council AGM but was knocked on the head by Conservative councillors is now taking place tomorrow, Wednesday 24th May 5-7pm.
The only event taking place tomorrow in the Civic Centre, apart from the library, is a 6pm training session for members of the Planning Committee. This will mean that Cllr Michael Maurice will be missing for the second half of the 2 hour protest.
Some of the protesters may be late as they are likely to having difficulty in finding a place to park their cars.
I do not have any firm news of a counter-demonstration by clean air campaigners yet.
A leaflet distributed in Alperton ward has confused voters. On one side the leaflet, 'Alperton Ward Matters', lists the three Alperton candidates.
On the other side, proving just how much Alperton ward matters they list the same three candidates as standing for Wembley Hill ward!
I received an election leaflet cheekily called 'Barnhill Ward Matters' through my door last week from Brent North Conservatives last week and was puzzled by their education policy. I am awaiting a response to my email below:
I have had your leaflet through the door and would like you to clarify Point 5 of your plan for Brent:
Local authority schools and academies are funded through the National Funding Formula government funding. The money for local authority schools goes to the Council who then distribute it to schools based on a number of factors agreed with Schools Forum. Academies and free schools are funded directly from the government with the appropriate amount then taken from the LA's schools budget.INSPIRING FUTURES THROUGH BETTER EDUCATIONThe Conservatives will invest in schools to deliver a higher quality of education to exceed neighbouring boroughs and bring aspiration to all the students in Brent, ensuring all individuals are given an equal opportunity for for life goals.
Since financial year 2018-19, a new National Funding Formula (NFF) has been used to determine how much mainstream schools attract in core revenue funding. There are separate formulas for sixth form, high needs, and early years funding. Pupil Premium (additional money to support disadvantaged children) is also paid via a separate grant.
Currently, the NFF is only being used to work out notional allocations for individual schools. These are then aggregated, adjusted, and passed to local authorities, who then draw up local funding formulas for onward distribution. This is known as a soft NFF.
The government has said it remains committed to introducing a hard NFF, i.e., one with a reduced role for local authorities in deciding allocations. In July 2021, it consulted on completing the NFF reforms, proposing a gradual move toward a hard NFF, but with no deadline for doing so. A further consultation is expected to follow.
My question then is how will a Brent Conservative administration increase investment in schools so that they exceed the quality of education of neighbouring boroughs?
This is the answer to my email received today (April 12th) from Sai Karthik Madabhushi of Barnhill Conservatives. Readers can judge for themselves whether this answers the question:
Dear Martin,Thank you for your email. I take your point on the changing NFF formula, but the consultations need to run their course and I believe the government will take decisions based on the outcome of these consultations and subsequent deliberations.Our thoughts in the Manifesto around "Better Education", are centered around the fact that the LA has sufficient funds and resources to ring-fence additional money for education in Brent. We need to help institutions move from Needs-improvement to Good and Good to Out-standing. It bothers us that we are building more homes in the area without planning ahead for more school places for children or the stresses this will place on the existing system.If representations have already been made to DFoE and they have been unsuccessful or if the LA deems a certain request critical to care or education in a particular school, the LA should consider releasing additional funds on a case-by-case basis. This we believe is critical to helping schools in Brent achieve, if not exceed their goals.We are open to suggestions and guidance to do the best thing for the community.
The basic Brent councillor allowance and special allowances will not be increased this year in line with the pay freeze in the public sector.
Meanwhile the Conservatives in their Alternative Budget have suggested a new allowance range and the deletion of two Cabinet positions. LINK
Conservative proposals. Note the SRAs (Special Responsibility Allowances) are in addition to the Basic Allowance.
Basic Allowance (all Members): £10,000.00
Leader SRA: £30,000.00
Deputy Leader SRA: £20,000
Cabinet Member SRA :£20,000 and delete x 2 cabinet posts
Opposition Leader SRA: £8,000
All other SRAS to remain at current level.
The 3 person Conservative Group also make the following proposal which includes a smaller Council Tax rise than Labour's 4.99%:
Brent Council has announced that the council by-election is to be held in Kensal Green Ward on Thursday 17 December 2015. This follows the sad death of Cllr Dan Filson last week.Brent Conservatives have been quick off the mark selecting Christopher Alley to contest the seat, presumably on the basis that he can handle a sandwich with panache!
Nominations for candidates must be submitted to the Returning Officer at Brent Civic Centre by 4pm on Friday 20 November.
The person elected on 17 December will be in place for the remainder of the standard four year term of office for a councillor, until May 2018, and will serve alongside the other two councillors elected to that ward in May 2014.
Anyone eligible but not currently registered to vote has until midnight on Tuesday 1 December to register if they wish to vote in the by-election.
Anyone already registered but who wants a postal vote has until 5pm on Wednesday 2 December to submit an application form, which they can get by emailing electoral.services@brent.gov.uk.
Alternatively a form can be downloaded at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk.
You can also call our Electoral Services office on 020 8937 1372.
Cllr Suresh Kansagra said they (the Kenton group) did not attend the (Conservative HQ organised) meeting because they did not recognise it as constitutional and will challenge any decision not made in their favour.At the Council Annual General Meeting on Wednesday a vote will be taken by the whole Council (56 out of 63 of whom are Labour councillors) on who to recognise as the principal opposition group.
He told the Times: “We called our (Kenton Conservative AGM) meeting on May 11, a proper legal meeting, our constitution and the constitution of the conservative central office. That constitution allows only the leader, the leader of the group and members. They (the Brondesbury Park group) were not invited because they are not paid members of the group.
“As far as we are concerned we are the conservative group on Brent council unless I am told otherwise from anywhere. Central office does not have the authority to call other AGMs under the constitution of the group.”
He said they were notified to attend the meeting but not consulted.
“We do not recognise them as Conservative Party members,” he said.
Barry Cameron, the recently announced UKIP candidate for Queensbury ward is a former Tory and member of the Tory's Barnhill Action Team.
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| Making the most from small garden on Chalkhill |
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| Sunday morning waiting for ASDA to open |
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| Mock Tudor on Barn Hill Estate |
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Fly-tipping on Chalkhill Estate
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| Bluebells on Barn Hill |
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| The site of the proposed Chalkhill Park |
