Trains, homes and heat: motions for Brent Council meeting on Monday September 14th

 The new political structure of Brent Council with four party groups is gradually getting into a new more constructive way of working and motions from Labour, Conservatives and Greens tabled for Monday's meeting might produce some cross-party consensus. Liberal Democrats do not have a motion slot this time round.

  

Labour Group Motion

 

All Aboard the West London Orbital

 

This Council notes:

 

 The West London Orbital (WLO) would bring under-used freight railway into passenger use as part of the London Overground, with an 18.5km route spanning Hounslow, Ealing, Brent and Barnet.

 New stations at Harlesden and Neasden, with up to six trains per hour, would give Brent residents direct connections to Old Oak Common, Brent Cross and West London’s Golden Mile Tech District. Journey times would be transformed, with Harlesden to Brent Cross West falling from 39 to 13 minutes and Neasden to Old Oak Common from 44 to 11 minutes.

 The WLO is projected to support more than 15,000 new homes, 11,500 new jobs and nearly £500 million in wider economic benefits. In Brent alone, it could support around 4,100 homes and widen access to jobs.

 More than 1.3 million car kilometres a year could be removed from Brent’s roads through a shift to WLO services.

 

This Council believes:

 

 The new Government’s focus on transport, housing and growth provides an opportunity for Brent to renew its efforts to secure support for the WLO.

 London must remain central to the national conversation on transport and growth. West London alone is a nearly £70 billion economy, while Brent residents paid £1.58 billion in income tax in 2023/24 – as much as Glasgow and more than Manchester. Investment in London also supports skilled jobs and supply chains across the UK, including rail manufacturing at Alstom’s factory in Derby. Investment that unlocks further growth in London is of benefit to the whole country.

 Brent is not immune from the challenges facing communities elsewhere in the country. Brent contains some of the most deprived communities nationally, including along the proposed WLO route. 37% of the travel-time savings for journeys originating in Brent would accrue in areas among the 20% most deprived nationally.

 By connecting with the Elizabeth line and HS2 at Old Oak Common, the WLO would help maximise the benefits of national rail investment while improving access to employment, education and opportunity across London.

 

This Council therefore resolves:

 

(1) To reaffirm its strong support for the West London Orbital and renew its engagement with the Government to ensure Brent and London’s voice is heard in decisions on future transport investment.

(2) To write to the Secretary of State for Transport and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, setting out the economic, social and national case for the WLO and calling on Government to work with the Mayor of London, TfL and West London boroughs towards a credible funding pathway for delivery.

(3) To continue working with the Mayor of London, TfL, the West London Alliance and neighbouring boroughs to progress the WLO and maximise its benefits for Brent residents.

(4) To work with TfL and other partners to safeguard land and protect future options for additional WLO stations in Brent, particularly where public transport accessibility is currently limited.

(5) To support and promote the forthcoming public consultation, encouraging residents, businesses and community organisations to help shape the proposals.

 

Councillor George Burn

Willesden Green Ward

 

Conservative Group Motion

 

Temporary Accommodation: Better Value and Greater Accountability

 

This Council notes:

 

 Brent faces severe pressure from rising homelessness, constrained housing supply and the increasing cost of temporary accommodation. In April 2026, the Council reported approximately 2,450 households in temporary accommodation, with around 60% in nightly paid arrangements.

 Brent’s Housing Needs service was forecast to overspend by £4.5 million in 2025/26, while expenditure on nightly paid temporary accommodation was expected to reach approximately £38 million. The Council has allocated a further £8 million of budget growth to Housing Needs to address existing and anticipated demand pressures.

 The Council has acknowledged that reliance on nightly paid accommodation creates financial volatility, increasing caseloads, limited affordable options and variable accommodation quality. It has also identified longer-term leasing to provide greater stability and better value, with around 367 units anticipated to deliver approximately £4.8 million a year in savings or cost avoidance compared with equivalent nightly paid accommodation.

 

This Council believes:

 

 

 Families who become homeless deserve safe, suitable and stable accommodation, while Brent taxpayers are entitled to expect that scarce resources are managed effectively.

 Nightly paid accommodation will sometimes be unavoidable, but it should not become a long-term substitute for developing more stable and better value housing supply.

 The success of Brent’s temporary accommodation strategy should therefore be judged by whether reliance on costly nightly accommodation is falling, properties are being brought into use quickly, families move into more stable homes and forecast savings are achieved.

 

This Council therefore calls on Cabinet to:

 

(1) Set and publish measurable targets for reducing Brent’s reliance on nightly paid and other high-cost temporary accommodation, together with a clear trajectory for achieving those reductions.

(2) Review the process for bringing newly acquired and leased properties into occupation, identifying avoidable delays and establishing clear performance targets for the time between a property becoming available to the Council and a household moving in.

(3) Continue to pursue longer-term leasing, acquisition and other supply options where these provide demonstrably better value and greater stability, while regularly assessing whether the savings and cost avoidance anticipated in business cases are being achieved.

(4) Introduce and publish a monthly Temporary Accommodation Performance Dashboard, reporting where possible:

 The total number of households in temporary accommodation;

 The number in nightly paid accommodation and B&Bs;

 Expenditure on temporary accommodation and the cost of nightly paid provision;

 The number of households moved into more stable accommodation;

 The number of acquired or leased properties awaiting occupation and the average time taken to bring them into use;

 The number of households placed outside Brent;

 Progress against the Council’s published reduction and savings targets.

(5) Use the Council’s new Temporary Accommodation and Private Sector Leasing Digital Management Platform to improve management information, performance monitoring and scrutiny.

(6) Report progress to the relevant scrutiny committee, including actual savings achieved, progress in reducing nightly paid accommodation and any barriers preventing the Council from moving families into more stable housing more quickly.

 

Councillor Anup Patel

Kenton Ward

 

Green Group Motion

 

Addressing Urban Heat and Climate Inequality in Brent

 

This Council Notes:

 

 Extreme heat is an increasing public health risk, with an estimated 2,877 heat-associated deaths in England during the May and June 2026 heatwaves.

 The risk of extreme heat in Brent is acute. Brent and London Risk Registers identify heatwaves as a major risk requiring local adaptation.

 That social and environmental justice go hand in hand. Extreme heat disproportionately affects communities already experiencing social, economic and health inequalities.

 Brent's Heat Vulnerability Index identifies Park Royal as a hotspot alongside other areas where existing and pipeline data centres are located.

 Tree equity mapping demonstrates a need for increased tree canopy and urban greening across central and southern Brent.

 In June and July following investment of £1.14m the newly refurbished Kilburn Library had to close due to inadequate heat mitigation measures.

 Brent published a Climate Adaptation and Resilience Framework in December 2025 and is strengthening climate adaptation measures across the borough.

 

This Council Believes:

 

 Whilst Brent has taken important steps towards climate adaptation the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme heat requires further action.

 Natural green spaces act as heat sinks and should be protected and developed to reduce urban surface temperatures, including partnership with residents.

 The Council has a responsibility to ensure that public spaces are accessible and safe during periods of extreme heat and council housing tenants are protected from heat impacts.

 Existing guidance does not provide sufficiently specific or consistent guidance for assessing the cumulative local heat impacts of data centres, particularly where multiple facilities are concentrated within a small area.

 

This Council therefore:

 

(1) Requests the necessary action be taken to:

 

(a) Expand the network of Cool Spaces across Brent, update the GLA water refill map to reflect all the stations in Brent and explore all options for increasing the number of refill stations across the borough.

(b) Integrate natural materials, shading and strategic planting in new playground designs to reduce heat exposure.

(c) Begin a dialogue with the NEU about mitigation for over-heating in local authority schools, and review protections for council workers and contractors during periods of extreme heat.

(d) Conduct a review of heat risk in public buildings, mapping buildings at high-risk and developing an action plan.

(e) Commission a feasibility study into community-public partnerships for the greening and maintenance of spaces such as pocket parks, derelict land and larger areas of hard surfacing to reduce heat and increase access to shade.

(f) Ensure that the Local Plan is informed by future climate risks and that future developments assess urban heat and incorporate heat resilience measures

 

(2) Request the Leader of the Council write to the Mayor of London seeking clearer guidance on how local authorities should assess overheating risks and cumulative impacts arising from clusters of data centres.

 

(3) Invites the relevant Cabinet Member to set out the Council’s approach to managing overheating risks in council housing including responsibilities under Awaab’s Law.

 

Councillor Mary Mitchell

Willesden Green Ward

 

DEPUTATIONS TO THE FULL COUNCIL (ITEM 6)

 

a)      Progress towards divestment (requested by Sheila Guhadasan representing the Brent & Harrow Palestine Solidarity Campaign)

 

(b)     Engagement of council members in monitoring progress on the delivery of the Council’s climate and biodiversity commitments and in setting future priorities in relation to Brents Climate & Ecological Strategy and delivery plan (requested by Elaine Sheppard, representing Action on the Climate and Ecological Emergency (ACE) Brent)

Brent Greens Raise Deep Concerns Over Independence of Board Appointment to £20m St Raphael’s "Pride in Place" project

 

 

Community celebration on St Raph's

 

Brent Green Party councillors have expressed serious concern regarding the appointment of the Independent Chair to the St Raphael’s Estate Neighbourhood Board, following growing public disquiet and formal governance inquiries over the recruitment process.

 

The £20 million government-backed "Pride in Place" initiative is intended to deliver long-term, community-led investment to support St Raphael’s Estate. However, the recent announcement of Priyesh Patel as the board’s "Independent Chair" has sparked concern from local residents, grassroots community advocates, and commentators.

 

Brent Green councillors share the concerns raised by the local community regarding whether this crucial appointment can genuinely be considered independent. Public records indicate that Mr Patel was employed directly within the Council Leader’s office until August 2025 and has actively engaged in political campaigning alongside Brent Labour candidates. Furthermore, community advocates have raised serious questions over reports that an advertised resident stakeholder interview panel was omitted from the final selection process.

 

The Leader of the Green Group Cllr Mary Mitchell said:

 

We share the deep concerns voiced by local residents and community advocates. Appointing someone who was employed directly in the Council Leader’s political office only twelve months ago and who has been actively on the campaign trail with Brent Labour severely undermines public trust in what is designated as an 'independent' role.

 

I am calling for full transparency about the appointment, the selection process and the safeguards in place to ensure that the role is genuinely independent, including through a conflict of interest and independence review.

 

A non-partisan community role must be open to scrutiny and must command confidence across the political spectrum, and, most importantly among local residents. Residents deserve concrete commitments to guarantee that St Raphael’s residents, and grassroots organisations are independently represented in choices about how the £20m fund is spent.

 

FoI aims to lift the lid on St Raph's Pride in Place Appointment

 

Priyesh Patel (Credit: Brent Council) 

A Freedom of Information request has been submitted to Brent Council by Asif Zamir, Independent Community Advocate on St Raphael’s Estate. It concerns the process involved in the appointment of the Independent Chair of the £20m St Raphael’s Pride in Place Project:

 

I am writing to make a formal request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. My request relates specifically to the recruitment, shortlisting, and final selection process for the newly appointed Independent Chair of the St Raphael’s Neighbourhood Board under the 'Pride in Place' programme.

 

Please provide the following information:

 

1. Resident and Stakeholder Involvement:

 

   * Documentation confirming whether a localised resident stakeholder panel or community interview forum was formed to participate in the evaluation, interviewing, or selection of candidates for this specific Chair position.

   * If a resident or community panel was utilised, please provide the terms of reference or the criteria by which panel members were chosen. If no resident stakeholder panel was involved, please provide any recorded policy justification or decision log detailing why community panel interviews were omitted from this recruitment process.

 

2. Shortlisting and Interview Metrics:

 

   * The total number of applicants who submitted an application for the role of Independent Chair for the St Raphael's Neighbourhood Board.

   * The total number of applicants who were successfully shortlisted and advanced to a formal interview stage.

   * The anonymised scoring matrices, evaluation criteria, or procedural rubrics used by the council selection panel to determine which applicants were granted an interview and which were excluded from the shortlisting stage.

 

3. Independence, Vetting, and Conflict of Interest:

 

   * Given that the successful candidate's public employment record indicates they were an employee of Brent Council until August 2025 before transitioning to a political think tank, please provide any recorded assessments, internal panel minutes, or governance reviews that evaluated how an individual leaving council employment approximately 12 months prior satisfies the strict criteria for an "Independent Chair."

   * Copies of the conflict of interest declarations, political activity disclosure forms, or dual-interest registers completed by the successful candidate during or immediately following the application process regarding their political campaign activity alongside ward councillors.

   * Any internal correspondence or minutes detailing how the candidate’s concurrent political campaigning activities were assessed against the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity, ensuring that public funds allocated to the Neighbourhood Board are protected from perceived political bias.

 

Procedural Instruction (Section 12 & Section 16):

 

If you determine that any part of this request exceeds the statutory cost limit under Section 12 of the FOI Act, please invoke your statutory duty to provide advice and assistance under Section 16. In that event, please fulfil all other sections of this request that fall within the limit, prioritising the production of the anonymised scoring matrices and conflict of interest declarations.

 

Priyesh Patel campaigning with Stonebridge councillors

 

 

Asif Zamir speaking to Wembley Matters said:

 

The council advertised for an 'Independent Chair' to lead a board tasked with shaping the future of a £20 million investment on St Raphael's Estate. Yet it is alleged the recruitment process completely bypassed a localised resident stakeholder interview panel that was advertised on their website.

 

Instead, the appointment went to an ex-Brent Council employee who was on the council payroll just 12 months ago, and it has been alleged that he has been actively documented on the local political campaign trail with Stonebridge Labour Councillors who are also involved in the Pride in Place appointment. Residents deserve complete transparency over how this selection was scored and verified.

 

Residents aren't a checkbox exercise. We don't need a board that is set up to manage our expectations from the top down—we need a board that actually represents us. This FOI forces the council to put their scoring and vetting records on display so the community can see exactly how this decision was made.

 

The appointee, Priyesh Patel’s  Linkedin Profile says that he worked out of the Brent Council Leader, Muhammed Butt’s, office from January 2024-August 2025 providing ‘high-level policy, communications, and stakeholder support to Brent's Cabinet Members, ensuring the delivery of strategic objectives across portfolios including housing, regeneration, health, education, and community safety.’

 

Previously he had been a case worker at the House of Commons and is currently at British Future.

 

Sandra  White, appointed to the equivalent post in Harlesden, had lived in the area for more than 20 years an active in the community including Chair of the Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum.  Priyesh Patel has been on Next Door (St Raph’s) since 2024 but has not made any posts. Brent Council’s press statement on Priyesh’s appointment says:

 

A proud St Raph’s resident, Priyesh has been involved in civic and community life in Brent from a young age – including through Brent Youth Parliament and later training and presenting with Brent Youth Radio. Priyesh has a strong interest in interfaith work across the borough and has supported charitable and community initiatives within local faith spaces in Stonebridge, alongside his involvement with Brent Multi Faith Forum.

 

Asif Zamir remarked:

 

I want to make it absolutely clear that this is not a personal attack on Priyesh Patel. I do not know him, and despite years of working on the ground here, he is not someone I or other active resident groups have ever come across within our estate's community advocacy networks. This is entirely about protecting the integrity of our community's voice.

 

When an advertised resident interview panel is bypassed to install an ex-council employee who worked directly inside the Council Leader's political office only a year ago, it fundamentally undermines the word 'Independent'. Our community is fighting to ensure that appointments are made fairly, transparently, and with genuine local oversight. St Raphael's residents have waited too long for this £20 million investment to have its governance handled through closed doors. We deserve a board leader who answers strictly to the people living in these blocks, not to the political networks at the Civic Centre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wembley Stadium events - road closures and bus diversion Wednesday September 9th and Saturday September 12th

 From Brent Council

Wembley Stadium will be hosting following events this week. Bon Jovi the Forever tour on following dates this week:  -  Wednesday 9 September Diljit Dosanjh the Aura World Tour on following dates this week:  - Saturday 12 September Please read below to see how this might affect you. Timings -  Bon Jovi the Forever tour concert doors will open 5.00pm and road closures will be in place at 3.00pm for Wednesday 9 September.  - Diljit Dosanjh the Aura World Tour concert doors will open 5.00pm and road closures will be in place at 3.00pm for Saturday 12 September.   We expect the area around Wembley Stadium to be very busy before and after this event so please avoid the area if you can, unless you have a ticket for the event. Event day parking Event day parking restrictions will be in place from 8am to midnight on main roads and from 10am to midnight on residential roads on Wednesday 9 and Saturday 12 September 2026. If you have a paper permit, please make sure you clearly display it in your vehicle. If you have an electronic permit, you do not need to display this. Drink-free zone We want to create a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors. To crack down on anti-social behaviour, we will be enforcing a ban on street drinking in the streets around Wembley Stadium before this event, as part of the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). If we find anyone drinking on Olympic Way or in the surrounding streets, they will be asked to hand over their alcohol and enforcement action may be considered. Road closures As usual, the following roads will be closed to traffic starting four hours before start of concert and for the duration of the event to help keep pedestrians safe: South Way (Pink Car Park to Wembley Hill Road) Fulton Road (Empire Way to Rutherford Way) Engineers Way (Empire Way to Rutherford Way) Approximately 45 minutes before the end of the event, Empire Way will also close southbound at the Esso Petrol Station on Wembley Park Drive. This will be followed by closures of Wembley Hill Road from the Triangle (Harrow Road) and the Tesco roundabout on Empire Way. These measures are there to create a safe route for spectators returning to Wembley Central Station. Latest information For up-to-date information about Wembley events, please visit the Wembley Stadium website

More information on deployment of extra resources in Veolia contract variation

 

The problem of overflowing bins...

 ...and dumping

 

Brent Council officers have supplied Cllr Suzanne Gallagher (Green Party Kilburn Councillor)  with further information on how the extra resources in the 12 month variation of the Veolia contract will be deployed:

  

Distribution of Resources

Could officers please advise:

      1. How the additional litter pickers will be allocated across the borough.

The deployment of the additional litter pickers will be flexible to account for emerging pressures on a day to day basis. Each Brent Connects area will receive 1x extra dedicated litter picker.

     2. How many of the additional litter-picking resources are expected to be deployed within Kilburn Ward.

As above. There will be 1 litter picker for your Brent Connects are, and any deployment specifically within Kilburn ward will be determined on a day to day basis depending on need and other priorities.

    3. Whether there is a ward-by-ward or area-by-area breakdown of the anticipated allocation of resources.

The additional litter picking resource is being applied on a Brent Connects area basis. The mechanical sweeping and the two additional fly-tip clearance teams are being deployed on a north of Brent and south of Brent basis.

    4. What criteria have been used to determine where the additional resources will be deployed.

Neighbourhood Mangers will determine the day to day deployment through discussion with their counterparts at Veolia. The decision-making will reflect monitoring outcomes and FMS data.

   5. Whether historic complaint data, Fix My Street reports, fly-tipping reports or cleanliness indicators were used in determining allocations.

Yes, this will be helpful in determining day to day deployment.

Housing Estates Trial

The decision refers to a trial of an additional vehicle and two-person crew for Brent Housing Estates. Could officers please advise:

   6. Which estates will be included within the trial.

A select range of the most challenging estate locations across Brent.

   7. Whether any estates within Kilburn Ward or the wider South Kilburn area will benefit from the additional resource.

Blocks at Stafford Road, Malvern Road, Cambridge Road, 

William Dunbar House, William Saville House

Gorefield House, Canterbury Court

   8. How estates were selected for inclusion in the trial.

A review of historic issues and ongoing difficulties.

   9. What specific services the additional crew will provide.

Rubbish clearance form grounds and bin stores

  10. How the success of the trial will be measured.

A basic assessment only of any improvement in visual amenity.

11. What performance indicators will be used to determine whether the trial should become a permanent service.

Basic improved visual amenity, and value for money.

Service Improvements and Outcomes

12. What baseline cleanliness standards or performance measures are currently being used against which the success of the investment will be assessed.

We measure cleanliness based on national guidelines relating to levels of litter that are visibly present.

13. What specific improvements the Council expects residents to see as a result of the £1.54m investment.

We seek only reduced levels of litter and dumped waste and better visual amenity and cleansing standards.

14. How councillors and residents will be able to monitor whether the additional expenditure is delivering value for money.

Through a general appreciation of improved cleansing standards at problem locations.

15. Whether there will be any public reporting of outcomes associated with these additional services.

This is yet to be determined with the Lead Member, but may be similar to reporting against NCIL funding for similar activity last year.

Contract Performance

Residents frequently raise concerns with councillors regarding street cleansing standards despite the existence of significant contracts with both Veolia and Krinkels. I would therefore be grateful if officers could advise:

16. To what extent the decision to provide additional funding reflects increased demand pressures as opposed to shortcomings in existing service provision.

The funding is necessary to improve standards beyond what the current contract is resourced to achieve. The current contract meets its current KPIs in relation to cleansing, so this will create an enhancement.

17. Whether any lessons from resident complaints, Members' Enquiries, Fix My Street reports or service performance monitoring informed the decision to increase investment.

Yes, this information establishes the correct locations and the overall demand for greater intervention.

18. Whether the Council considers that existing contractual service levels have been sufficient to meet resident expectations.

Current KPIs are being met. Demand is increasing most definitely, however, and the current contract scope was much reduced in order to remain affordable at the time of award. 

19. Whether any performance concerns have been raised with contractors in relation to litter, cleansing, weed control, fly-tipping or estate cleanliness.

The contract is currently meeting its KPI commitments in relation to cleansing.

Kilburn and South Kilburn

Given the persistent concerns raised by residents regarding locations including the South Kilburn estates, could officers specifically advise:

20. What proportion of the additional investment is expected to benefit Kilburn Ward.

Not established, and will be determined on a day to day basis.

21. Whether any hotspot locations within Kilburn have been identified for enhanced cleansing activity.

The focus will be on those estates mentioned, and areas of high footfall, and those locations that are subject to repeated incidences of fly-tipping. Raakesh will be able to advise in terms of the specifics, and will gladly receive your recommendations, etc.

22. Whether officers anticipate a measurable improvement in cleanliness standards within Kilburn as a result of this investment and, if so, how that improvement will be assessed.

Yes, the intention is to provide an enhanced service to make areas cleaner. Improvement will be assessed through joint inspections with Veolia.

 

A temporary end to Brent's 'Dirty Weekends'? Scrutiny discusses call-in of the proposed variation of the Veolia contract and a possible review before implementation of measures.

 

Dump on Public Right of Way 27 between St Andrew's Road, Kingsbury and Grade 1 Listed Old St Andrew's Church. An example of an unregistered space, long a dumping ground.

 

Scrutiny Committee voted last night not to refer back the proposed variation of the Veolia contract. Conservative and Labour councillors outvoted their Liberal Democrat and Green peers. 

The call-in by Liberal Democrats and a Green  member wanted a review of Veolia performance before implementation of the variation measures, as the Lead Member, Cllr Promise Knight, had not consulted with councillors over the issue. As the Lead Member was not present Cllr Butt substituted for her.

Cllr Paul Lorber presented the call-in and began by challenging the sum of £1.54m quoted as the cost of the 12 month variation. It included 20% VAT. As public bodies spending for the public good do not pay VAT or have it returned - the true cost was actually £1.2m. 

Before the implementation of the additional measures he said there should be a Review that asked: 

What is wrong? {with waste and litter system]

 How do we improve it?

How much does it cost?

What can we afford? 

 

 

After Cllr Lorber and other councillors had spoken about the level of complaints from residents about litter and fly-tipping the Chair, Cllr A.Patel, drew attention to the 'disconnect' between that experience and a procurement report that said that Veolia was performing well and feedback was positive, satisfying the contract's KPIs (key Performance Indicators). Cllr Mary Mitchell remarked that perhaps this meant that the KPIs were wrong.

Cllr Butt said that the contract in 2023 was devised at a time when there was limited funding and even now councillors could not expect a gold-plated service. Veolia could not be expected to do things for free.  The Council were plugging the gaps with the variation operating over 12 months and then could evaluate and decide what was possible over the next period. He seemed a little confused because at one point he said, 'This is not a variation of the contract'. (2.41 in above video)

Environment Officer Chris Whyte pointed on that the latest contract came to an end in 2031 and that for such a large and complicated contract a review involving all parties would start in 2028 ahead of the procurement.

 

 

Cllr Butt said that the interim measures would address Brent's 'dirty weekends' when littering and flytipping took place but was not addressed until work resumed on Monday. Weekend and late night working would deal with some of the persistent problems. Chris Whyte said that the clear-up from weekend dumping lasted through to Wednesday so it was only on Thursday and Friday that Brent streets were really clean.

Questioning by Cllr Paul Ryan on the money available this year drew the information that an additional £3m, minus the £1.2m,  for public realm was available in this year's budget. Members could make suggestions on how this could be used but the process for doing so was not clear.

Have your say in tree felling in Brent: current proposals - Consultation on Donaldson Road, Olive Road, Thirlmere Gardens

 There is precious little information on the Brent website but here are the links:

  

https://haveyoursay.brent.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/tree-felling-consultation-40-donaldson-road

 

https://haveyoursay.brent.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/tree-felling-consultation-36-olive-road

 

https://haveyoursay.brent.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/tree-felling-consultation-9-thrilmere-gardens-ha9

Wembley Park residents' Open Letter expressing growing concerns over increased disruption associated with Wembley events

 

 Upcoming events - note number of bus diversions and timing of road closures

 

This summer has been marked by an extraordinary number of concerts at Wembley Stadium following the decision of Brent Council to allow more sporting events at the stadium. A concert even supplanted a major football match earlier this month.

Since June, until today, there have been 30 concert days. 

The disruption of road closures, bus diversions and route curtailments has hit the newer residents of Wembley Park as much as the longer term residents of the wider Wembley area.

Now Wembley Park Residents Association is taking up the matter with a letter to the appropriate  authorities setting out the issues and potential mitigations shared in their community which they think may be of interest to the wider Wembley community.:

If you would like to sign the letter write to:   Wembley Park Residents Association Committee  Email: wembleypark.ra@gmail.com with your name, road or area (optional) and the date. Respond by 5pm on Monday September 7th. 

In addition to transport, Event Days also impinge on Wembley Park residents in another way  impacting on mobile phone signals and WiFi connections that plummet, making it difficult to communicate with friends and family 

   

Open Letter from Wembley Residents

 

Request for a Review of Event-Day Transport Arrangements and Their Impact on Local Residents

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

We, the undersigned residents of Wembley, are writing to express our growing concern regarding the increasing disruption caused by event-day road closures and bus diversions associated with Wembley Stadium and the surrounding entertainment venues.

 

We are proud to live in an area that hosts world-renowned sporting, cultural and entertainment events, and we recognise the importance these events bring to the local economy and London's international reputation. We also appreciate that public safety must remain the highest priority when managing large crowds.

 

However, as the number and frequency of events continue to increase—particularly on weekdays—the impact on the daily lives of residents has become increasingly difficult to manage.

 

For many of us, these disruptions are no longer occasional inconveniences but have become a regular part of everyday life. Public transport is our primary means of travelling to and from work, attending medical appointments, taking children to and from school or childcare, caring for relatives, shopping for essential groceries, and accessing local services. On event days, bus services are frequently diverted or suspended for extended periods, resulting in significantly longer journeys, uncertainty, and lengthy walks to temporary bus stops.

 

The effects extend beyond commuting. Friends and family are often discouraged from visiting because parking restrictions are extensive and public transport journeys become considerably longer during events. This has a direct impact on residents' social and family lives. Working parents frequently experience delays collecting children from childcare after work, whilst older residents and those with disabilities or reduced mobility face additional barriers to accessing healthcare and other essential services.

 

As residents, we contribute to our community through council tax and support local businesses throughout the year. Whilst we accept that some disruption is unavoidable, we believe residents should also have a reasonable expectation of being able to travel, work and enjoy family life with minimal disruption.

 

Wembley is no longer simply an events destination—it is home to a large and growing residential community. We believe that transport planning should reflect both of these important roles equally.

 

Immediate Improvements

 

We respectfully ask Brent Council, Transport for London and Wembley Stadium to review the current arrangements and consider practical measures that could significantly reduce disruption while maintaining public safety, including:

 

• Maintaining at least one dedicated bus corridor during event days wherever it is safe to do so.
• Limiting road closures to the shortest period operationally necessary before and after events.
• Introducing resident shuttle buses connecting residential areas with Wembley Park, Wembley Central and other key transport hubs.
• Improving advance communication regarding road closures, bus diversions and alternative travel arrangements.
• Considering the impact of weekday events on commuters, school collections, healthcare appointments and other essential journeys.
• Regularly reviewing diversion routes to ensure they minimise disruption to residents while maintaining effective crowd management.

 

Long-Term Strategic Solutions

 

As Wembley continues to expand as both a residential neighbourhood and an international events destination, we believe it is timely to undertake a comprehensive review of the area's transport infrastructure.

 

We ask Brent Council, Transport for London and relevant partners to explore long-term solutions that better separate event-related traffic from residential traffic. Options for consideration could include:

 

• Assessing the feasibility of a dedicated access route, flyover or highway connection between Wembley Stadium and the A406 North Circular Road, allowing event traffic and coaches to access the stadium without travelling through residential streets.
• Reviewing the surrounding road network to identify opportunities to reduce the volume of event traffic using local roads.
• Improving traffic management systems and navigation routing so that event traffic is directed via appropriate strategic routes rather than residential streets wherever possible.
• Ensuring that future regeneration and transport planning gives equal consideration to the needs of Wembley residents alongside those of the stadium and entertainment venues.

 

We recognise that these options would require detailed technical studies, consultation and investment. However, with Wembley continuing to grow, now is the appropriate time to begin planning transport infrastructure that is fit for both its residents and its role as an international events destination.

 

Our Request

 

We respectfully request that Brent Council, Transport for London and Wembley Stadium:

 

• Undertake a comprehensive review of event-day transport arrangements.
• Consult with local residents on the impact of current road closures and bus diversions.
• Publish the findings of that review together with proposed improvements.
• Develop both short-term operational changes and a long-term transport strategy that better balances the needs of residents with those of major events.

 

We firmly believe it is possible to maintain Wembley as one of the world's leading sporting and entertainment destinations whilst also ensuring that those who call Wembley home are able to live, work and travel with minimal disruption.

 

We appreciate your consideration of these concerns and look forward to your response.