Chalkhill infill plans passed unanimously by Brent Planning Committee

 Cllr Kathleen Fraser (Independent, Chalkhill ward) speaks to the Planning Committee

 

There were some carefully considered contributions to Brent Planning Committee last night when a Metropolitan Housing Trust application for 61 new homes on the Chalkhill Estate was discussed. New blocks of up to 5 storeys will replace garages and car parking space on the 'Science Blocks' area.

Contributors recognised the need for more social housing and were pleased that ALL the new homes will be at social rent. A rare occurence in Brent!

However, there were some downsides. Mariana, from the most affected block, Einstein House, made a detailed case that a three storey block, replacing one storey garages, would impact on the amount of daylight residents received and were too close, well causing Einstein flats to be overlooked from the balconies of the new block.  Various mitigation measures were discussd, including screening of windows, tree planting etc. None of the proposals seemed to fully answer the problem.

 Cllr Kathleen Fraser, (Independent Chalkhill ward) whilst advocating the case for more social housing, recognised the disruption that would occur to residents and listed their concerns in full. She wanted assurances that existing residents would be fully involved and consulted as the demolition and new build took place.

There was concern that a CPZ would land hard-pressed low income residents with further charges. 

An issue that emerged during the discussion was a lack of confidence in Metropolitan Thames Valley's management of the estate including  management, maintenance, waste, safety, anti-social behaviour and issues such as abandoned cars dumped in estate car parks.  Metropolitan Housing Trust is separate from the daily managment and were not ble to answer fully. Brent Council will need to be in close touch with residents, councillors and Metropolitan when the work gets underway.

The Planning Committee unanimously approved the application. 

 

 

The last Annual Meeting of the current Brent administration

Wednesday's Annual Meeting of Brent Council marks the last year of the current administration and the thirteenth year of Muhammed Butt's leadership of the Labour Group and the Council.

The Annual Meeting sees much fussing over ceremonial regalia and flummery, as well as the serious business of appointing Committee members and representatives on outside bodies.

Cllr Ryan Hack will be installed as the youngest ever Brent Mayor and Cllr Kathleen Fraser as his seasoned Deputy.  Whether Cllr Fraser acceedes to the Mayoralty will depend on the outcome of the 2026 local election.

Committee details are not released until just before the Annual Meeting but Butt may attempt a 'refresh' before the election. Watch this space.

The last item on the Annual Meeting Agenda is a proposed Protocol for setting up International Partnerships and a proposed Twinning Arrangement with Nablus on the West Bank of Palestine.

The Twinning proposal is accompanied by a very thorough 67 page assessment of the benefits to Brent and the practicalities HERE.

 The twinning proposal has been supported by a 1849 signature petition and Brent Trades Council, Brent NEU, Brent Friends of Palestine and Brent Palestine Solidarity Campaign amongst others.

The financial arrangements are covered n the documentation:

The Mayoral Office is likely to spend some of its annual budget on hosting the occasional visit (if in a Twinning arrangement). A maximum budget per twinning or friendship agreement per financial year should be identified and confirmed with the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources by the officer(s) assessing the proposal to ensure funds can be allocated to this budget before any new Internal Partnership Arrangement is agreed.

 

 International Partnering Arrangements would fall under the remit of the Mayor of Brent, but costs related to International Partnering Arrangements must be met by the organisation leading on this. This includes costs for entertaining, gift swaps or costs for printing certificates. There should be no additional financial cost for the Mayor’s Office, or other parts of the council.

 

Cllr Shafique Choudhary (Barnhill ward) denounces his 'deselection' and cites 'nepotism' as a factor

 

Cllr Shafique Choudhary, currently a councillor for Barnhill ward, has taken to the community site Next Door to correct what he says are being told about him on the doorstep, as Labour campaigns for the upcoming Council elections.

He says that it is not true that he has retired as claimed but in fact he was 'deselected' by the Labour Party. In the recent boundary revision Barnhill was allocated only two councillors having previously had three representatives.  As Labour Party rules say that one must be a woman it meant that there was only one  male position.

I understand that all positions were contested this year so Cllr Choudhary could not have expected automatic re-selection for the post he has held for two years. Furthermore, selections are made by rank and file members at a special ward selection meeting and not by the 'Labour Party'. It appears that he was 'not selected' rather than deselected.

His claim that  'Nepotism is one cause' is an interesting suggestion. Neither of the new Labour candidates, Robert Johnson and Kathleen Fraser, are related to senior Brent councillors  as far as I know, although there were at one time unsubstantiated rumours that the other current male Barnhill  councillor, Mansoor Akram, was related to Council Leader Muhammed Butt.

Robert Johnson is a former Brent officer who was involved in the redevelopment of the Chalkhill Estate and Kathleen Fraser is a former Labour councillor and Chair of Chalkhill Residents Assoication.

 

 Cllr Choudhary flanked by Barry Gardiner MP, Cllr Muhammed Butt (Brent Council Leader), David Lammy MP and London Mayor Sadiq Khan at the Barn Hill Memorial for murder victims Bibaa Henry and Mina Smallman.

 

I live in Barnhill ward so Cllr Choudhary is one of my local councillors and he has been responsive on many issues I have raised.  We worked together for some time in the cross-party and non-party Brent Cross Coalition that opposed the redevelopment  on the borders of Brent Cross shopping centre. A search on this blog will give you the background.

Recently I have worked with Divest Brent on persuading Brent Council to divest its pension fund from fossil fuels. Cllr Choudhary is chair of the Pension Fund Committee as well as Kingsbury Brent Connects.

On Next Door Cllr Choudhary tells readers that the situation is not reversible and goes on:

I am using this media to say all of you thank you from bottom of my heart. Your community is an intelligent community prefer to live kind of of united Group. Also, you know well that you are the custodian of your area, you have a positive vision for both community enhancement and welfare of Barnhill. You have extraordinary strong and intelligent community representatives - nothing matching anywhere in Brent. I have with your kind help and generosity laid strong foundations for further future to build upon and carry on with the progress so far achieved. Please carry on with no hesitation.