Cllr Muhammed Butt today told the Kilburn Times that the Forward Plan notice uploaded on the Brent Council website that the Cabinet would be making a decision to end the funding of the Stonebridge Adventure Playground LINK had been 'uploaded in error'. It is reminiscent of the Tweet sent out inviting residents to speak at a Full Council meeting on a Friday, giving Monday as the deadline which was said to be an error when I applied to speak on the subject of the appointment of a permanent Chief Executive LINK
This is what Cllr Butt told the Kilburn Tines: LINK
The Heading (below the purple line) was originally published as:
Whether this is to avoid a headline of 'Brent Council give Stonebridge children a surprise Christmas present - they close their playground!' or some other reason is a matter for speculation.
My hunch is that the original wording of the Forward Plan reflects the Council's true intentions and that Muhammed Butt is fully aware that this is the case.
That local residents, and the children who use the Centre, are being subject to such deceit is a disgrace.
This is what Cllr Butt told the Kilburn Tines: LINK
The forward plan item considering the future funding of the Brent Play Association was taken down from our website as it was an incorrect version which had been uploaded in error. A correct version will be published later today. (Tuesday).The new version of the item has been posted and a screen grab is below:
It is important to note that this funding issue is completely separate from the regeneration proposals for Stonebridge. They are two separate decisions.
Given the fact that by 2018 Brent Council will have had its funding cut in half by government, we are having to review all expenditure across a wide range of areas including children’s services.
But let me be absolutely clear about this, no decisions on either the funding of the Brent Play Association or on the regeneration of Stonebridge have yet been made.
The Heading (below the purple line) was originally published as:
To terminate the funding to Brent Play Association (BPA) at the end of the 2014-15 financial year.Importantly the 'Decision due' date is now the Cabinet of January 26th 2015 rather than the original posting of December 15th 2014.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Significant expenditure/savings > 30% of budget for the function in question;
Whether this is to avoid a headline of 'Brent Council give Stonebridge children a surprise Christmas present - they close their playground!' or some other reason is a matter for speculation.
My hunch is that the original wording of the Forward Plan reflects the Council's true intentions and that Muhammed Butt is fully aware that this is the case.
That local residents, and the children who use the Centre, are being subject to such deceit is a disgrace.
