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

 

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

Brent FoE Players to perform at Brent Civic Centre during half-term with 'Jackie and the Greenstalk - an eco-patomime

 

From Brent Friends of the Earth

After the success of our Eco-Panto at two libraries in Brent (see report here), it's been agreed with Brent Council that we will perform the show again at the Civic Centre Atrium on 23rd October at 11:45am (during schools' half-term).

 

We hope to see you there.

QUEENS PARK DAY TOMORROW (SUNDAY) NOON - 5.30PM: SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! FULL PROGRAMME

 

From QPARA

Queen’s Park Day: Sunday 17th September 2023

12 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

 

This year, as well as all the usual events and stalls to enjoy, QPARA will be celebrating its 50th Birthday in style. Come to the 50th Anniversary tent to see a special exhibition of our achievements in continuing to make Queen’s Park a great place to be. Buy a 50th mug and obtain a copy of our mini-history “50 Years On”.

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Queen’s Park Day – fun, friends and food – is the highlight of the year for families from miles around.  Part village fête with makers and bakers, live music and exhilarating arena acts, the day is a full-on celebration of our local community.

 

The complete programme is below. You can download it if that makes reading it easier for you.

We have exhilarating feats of derring-do in the main arena, where we kick off the day with an expanded dog show (with two extra classes). 

 

Our two stages feature local (and not so local) music, dance and performance, with the addition this year of a fabulous sustainable fashion show: handmade, homemade and locally sourced haute couture, modelled on our very own Park runway.

 

Puppet shows, donkey rides, climbing walls and inflatables will keep the youngest folk amused, while a range of 20 street food stalls featuring flavours from round the world ensure no one needs go hungry.

Ever fancied riding a reclining bicycle? You’ll have a chance!

 

Aspiring Bake Off contestants, bring along your zestiest lemon meringue pie to be judged, or let your crafty ingenuity shine in one of our ‘making’ competitions. (Full details on the competitions page.) 

 

And there will be a smorgasbord of local traders, businesses and services on show among our 120 stalls.

 

Queen’s Park Day is organised by a team of volunteers on behalf of QPARA. Big thanks to all who 

support us and make it possible to keep the day free and inclusive. Blue skies!

 

 

PROGRAMME - Click bottom right square to enlarge 

 

 

DON'T MISS!

 

See special production by the Brent Friends of the Earth Theatre Group on the Community Stage at 3.20pm (watch out for the polar bear!)

 

HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE EARTH AND INFLUENCE CREATURES:

What YOU can do about COP 28 and the Climate Crisis 

  

AND DON'T FORGET TO VISIT THEIR STALL (A9) NEAR THE QPARA MARQUE

 

Pam Laurance steps up to try to answer all those questions about doing your bit on climate change but were afraid to ask - Chalkhill Radio, Saturday 10am-11am.

 

 

No, it's not about legalising drugs but a chat with Brent Friends of the Earth's Pam Laurance who will be tackling some of those thorny questions people find themselves  asking (or being asked) when it comes to taking action on climate change. 

What do we think about cutting down on flying when many people in Brent want to keep in touch with family back in their home countries and attend important weddings and funerals? Should you ration holidays by air or stop completely - particularly when it can be such a hassle? Stop short-haul?

Many people are changing their eating habits to cut down on meat and significant numbers of people, especially in the north of the borough area, are already vegetarian, what are the pros and cons of a vegetarian or vegan diet?  How should you start to change your diet and how does it work with changing the diet of a young family keen on fast food?

I am sure that driving (including the school run and shopping), low traffic neighbourhoods, reducing air pollution, cycling and much else will be raised by listeners.

Pam will be asked to choose a record to be played on the show. Speculation is rife about which song she will choose but I don't think it will be this one.

https://www.chalkhillcommunityradio.com/

Thinking of cutting down on meat and dairy for personal and planetary health? Tune into Chalkhill Radio and join the conversation tomorrow 10am

 

From Brent Friends of the Earth

We hope to have a regular slot on the local Community Radio station, Chalkhill Community Radio. I'll be kicking off tomorrow, talking about how we can cut down on meat and dairy consumption.

You can tune in by going to www.chalkhillcommunityradio.com and clicking on 'listen live'. Recording available later.

Studio number for texts and calls 07956 548 781

Brent FoE's 'critical friend' presentation at Scrutiny on the Climate Emergency Strategy wins support

 Sheila Simpson made a presentation at tonight's Scrutiny Committe on behalf of Brent Friends of the Earth, ahead of the Committee's consideration of progress on the Council's Climate Emergency Strategy. Three members of the Committee declared an interest as members of Brent FoE and it became clear that several members of the Committee led by Cllr Tom Miller (not a member of Brent FoE) shared many of the concerns Sheila had expressed. The Strategy was too patchy and ignored some major areas.  It lacked any effective means of measuring local progress in terms of emissions and of comparing progress with other London boroughs.

There was diligent questioning of officers and Cllr Krupa Sheth, Lead Member for Environment, and the Committee made a number of recommendations. (Exact wording will be finalised by officers):

1. The provision of a framework and dashboard to enable assessment of progres.

2. As lack of resources was a major factor in making progress to lobby the government on the issue,

3. A review of progress to be brought to the Committee.

4. Every service in the Council should include a climate action impact statement in their reports as they do with equality assessments.

5. Explore ways that Strategic CIL could be used to deliver the infrastructure necessary to to tackle climate change.

 

Sheila Simpon's Presentation

 

 

Good evening, I’m Sheila Simpson a member of Brent Friends of the Earth with over 200 people on our mailing list. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on their behalf.

 

Deep concern about the urgency of the climate and ecological crisis and lack of government action is growing.  Our members were amongst many thousands of people on the streets of Westminster last weekend hoping to raise awareness, work on solutions and open dialogue with Parliament. 

 

Locally, too, we must work in partnership to make progress. No-one is outside the effects of climate change.  In this spirit, I’m sharing some of our comments, concerns and suggestions in relation to the Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy Update: Delivery Plan & Green Neighbourhoods. The aims are rightly ambitious.

 

The rationale for a narrower focus of resources on the selected Green Neighbourhoods is clear. Maximising impact and testing solutions in this way makes sense, but also risks taking time we may not have and leaving the majority of Brent untouched.

 

The commitment to consulting and co-designing plans with residents is welcome and key to creating a sense of community ownership. At a workshop for Church End and Roundwood Greener Neighbourhood, I saw how elements of our discussion were fed into the plan.

 

The resulting ‘patchwork’ of multiple, small-scale, individual projects can have some effect on carbon emissions within the area. But it is not clear which actions would be prioritised given limited resources, and some key proposals don’t appear.  

 

For example, increasing active travel: bicycle hangars will be of practical immediate help to some, whereas the longer-term vision of creating safe cycle/pedestrian friendly Green Corridors, is more tenuous, dependent upon feasibility studies, although it is more likely to get results. (Cyclists who feel themselves at risk from traffic are not bothered if the cars that present a danger use fossil fuel or electricity).

 

Aside from increasing the number of School Streets there is little action or clear aspiration to actively discourage or limit car use, this is effective in shifting behaviour away from harmful travel choices. Perhaps more action is envisaged, see para. 5.18 where the feasibility study may ‘consider potential for more ambitious interventions in the healthy streets agenda’?

 

Evidence grows for low traffic neighbourhoods improving safety and the quality of life for residents.

 

Supporting car clubs can provide affordable access to a low-emission vehicles and reduce demand for on-road parking. (see Dept. of Transport guidance)

 

Kingsbury Greener Neighbourhood focuses on schools Though a small number of schools are involved their enthusiasm and energy is promising; students have potential to be influencers at home, reaching diverse communities where extended families may well be living now with the consequences of our choices here.

 

We see further scope for quick wins with wider long-term impact.

 

Could the council be working more closely with Brent Pure Energy to get Solar Panels installed on school roofs?

 

Over-consumption of meat and dairy products as a major source of emissions, is not directly addressed in the plan. Work could start now to encourage plant-based diets in schools, (learning from the success of other local authorities, linking with organisations like ProVegUK and Plant Based Universities) leading to life-long switches to healthy low-carbon eating.

 

The Development Led Pilot with greater potential to impact the environment, is less formed and harder to comment on. Brent Friends of the Earth and individual members submitted considered and detailed views on plans for South Kilburn expressing many concerns including loss of tree cover, biodiversity and open space, and risk of flooding.

 

Brent’s 2021-2030 C.E.E. Strategy sees members of Brent’s Environmental Network as key to community-led behaviour change. Residents and businesses outside the green neighbourhoods also need to be informed and involved in these issues. The B.E.N. website is not always up to this task, (for example if you look at the section on Solar Power it leads to finding there is no current programme of support on offer or any signposting elsewhere.  It is also unclear how often the ‘regular’ newsletter can be expected)

 

Friends of the Earth distribute information and engage in climate conversations with the public; it would be good to be able to point them to council sources of up-to-date advice and information.

 

We will meet Cllr Donnelly-Jackson to discuss ongoing plans for meaningful Brent-wide public engagement.

 

Brent won’t monitor the effect of interventions, relying on UK government statistics to benchmark and demonstrate progress. This makes it almost impossible to see what the result of the planned actions is, and what is attributable to more general national and local trends. Without information linked to reduced emissions how will competing demands for resources be prioritised or effective action targeted towards net zero?

 

Public engagement needs credible feedback demonstrating results to avoid burnout or cynicism.

Friends of the Earth’s ‘Near You’ online database enables comparisons with similar local authorities, and we’ll follow progress closely.

Only 6.5 years to 2030. You have a vital task to keep the council on target to reach net zero emissions.  Given the urgency, size, and complexity of the problem we suggest this committee form a sub-group to focus on climate emergency issues.

 

We wish you every success.

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

Brent FoE hit the LDO with climate change message

 

From Brent Friends of the Earth

We had a great afternoon with the Brent FoE stall in the sunshine at the London Designer Outlet, near the Brent Civic Centre on Sunday. Some re-elected and newly elected councillors were among the volunteers running the event.

 

We engaged with adults and children, using our bunting flags to get pledges and demands from members of the public. The bunting was hung on the railings of the children's playground behind the stall, and later transferred to fencing around a building site in Neasden, where it would be seen by people at the nearby bus stop. 

 

We also had some lively contact with people using our 'fortune-teller' gizmos, which opened up, after people made their choices, to give some advice on what people could do about climate change. 

We handed out a lot of our newly printed 'Climate Crisis - What you can do' trifold leaflets.Click bottom right corner for full page version.

 

 

ELECTION PLEDGES: These Brent Council election candidates are pledging to work to divest Brent’s pension fund from fossil fuel investments - ask your candidates to sign up

 From Brent Friends of the Earth

These Councillor candidates in Brent have pledged to do all they can to ensure that Brent Pensions Fund ends its investment in fossil fuels and invests in a just transition to a zero-carbon economy.

 

Jumbo Chan       Brent Council     Harlesden and Kensal Green      Labour

Iman Ahmadi Moghaddam          Brent Council     Wembley Park    Labour

Mary Mitchell    Brent Council     Welsh Harp   Labour       

Ryan Hack           Brent Council     Brondesbury Park     Labour

William Relton   Brent Council     Willesden Green    Green Party

Simon Erskine    Brent Council     Stonebridge     Green Party 

Martin Francis   Brent Council     Tokyngton        Green Party

 

The list will be updated HERE as more candidates sign up.

 

If you are a candidate and would like to take the pledge, please fill in this short form and you will be added to the public pledge list at the bottom of divest.org.uk/elections-2022.

 

Brent Council invests over £20 million of their pension fund money in planet-wrecking fossil fuels.  This also puts members’ pensions in jeopardy as fossil fuel investments now pose a dangerous long-term financial risk.

Cardiff, Waltham Forest, Southwark, Islington, and Lambeth councils have already committed to divesting their pensions.

 If you have any further questions on this, please contact us at Brent FoE or the UK Divest team at ukdivest@gmail.com. Here is a short guide to divestment which provides some more information on the issue. UK Divest is also hosting a webinar for sitting councillors and prospective candidates on Tuesday 26 April which will explore the moral and financial benefits of divesting from gas, oil and coal. If you are interested Please register here  

 

Muhammed Butt's poll rating dives AFTER he speaks at Environment Hustings

It's not a scientific poll and just for fun but a poll of voting intentions was taken before candidates spoke at this evening's Friends of the Earth Environmental hustings and afterwards.

This was the result:

Candidate	Party	Before %	After %
David Stevens	Green	29	31
Anton Georgiou	Liberal Democrat	21	33
Sunita Hirani	Conservative	15	14
Muhammed Butt	Labour	35	17
	Undecided	9	6

 

Care about fresh air, safe roads, green spaces, climate change? Hear from Brent election candidates at environmental hustings TONIGHT 7pm

The speakers at the the Brent FoE Environmental Hustings (in alphabetical order) will be:

Councillor Muhammed Butt (Labour) - Currently Leader of Brent Council
Councillor Anton Georgiou (Liberal Democrat) - Currently representing Alperton Ward
Sunita Hirani (Conservative) Candidate for Kenton Ward
David Stevens (Green Party) - Candidate for Welsh Harp Ward

 

Speakers will outline their Party’s policy, and answer questions from local people on environmental matters. The meeting will cover topics related to climate change, including questions on energy costs, housing, transport, the natural environment, air quality, waste and other matters of concern to local people.

 

There will be an opportunity to submit questions for candidates in advance, as well as raising questions at the meeting. If you have a question you would like to put to the panel, please email us with the text of your question, and let us know if you would like to ask it yourself or have it put to the candidates by the chair.

 

The meeting will be chaired by locally based barrister, broadcaster and author, Hashi Mohamed, who will put the questions and challenge candidates on their policies.

 

You will need to register in advance, and you will be sent a link to the event shortly before it starts. To register, go to https://www.tickettailor.com/events/brentfriendsoftheearth/664005