Brent Council consults on new Local Plan and development management

Following the story below on the South Kilburn Queen's Park Place development, readers may be interested in this from Brent Council:

We are updating our planning policies to shape the future of Brent.

We are consulting on the draft Development Management Policies Document, which will guide how we determine future planning applications.

Once adopted it will form part of the Local Plan, and supersede saved UDP policies.
The policies deal with important issues such as:

• promoting strong town centres by setting limits on the number of takeaways, betting shops, pawnbrokers and payday loan shops
• limiting takeaways and shisha cafes near schools
• seeking the quality, size and type of homes the borough needs
• boosting the economy, protecting open space and community facilities.

This is an opportunity for local people and organisations to say what you think about the proposed policies.

The period for consultation runs from 20 June to 31 July 2014. During this period we are also consulting on the accompanying Sustainability Appraisal, and associated alterations to the Core Strategy and Policies Map. All documents can be downloaded below.

• Draft Development Management Development Plan Document (.pdf, 3.74MB) 
• Proposed Alterations to the Core Strategy (.pdf, 456.5kB) 
• Proposed Alterations to the Policies Map (.pdf, 4.43MB) 
• Sustainability Appraisal pt1 (.pdf, 3.99MB) 
• Sustainability Appraisal pt2 (.pdf, 1.96MB) 
• Sustainability Appraisal pt3 (.pdf, 2.43MB) 

Copies of these documents can also be viewed in all Brent libraries during the consultation period.

Policy evidence base

• View the evidence base that supports the policies 

How to have your say

During the consultation period you can complete our online comment form.
Alternatively you can provide detailed comments on the document itself.
You can also email ldf@brent.gov.uk or write to: Planning Policy and Projects Team, Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 0FJ.
The deadline for receiving your comments is 5pm on 31 July 2014.
There are also opportunities to find out more about the policies at drop-in sessions where council officers will be on hand to answer your questions. These will take place at:

• Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, 19 July, 12noon - 3pm
• Sainsbury's, High Road, Willesden Green, Monday 14 July, 4pm - 8pm

All comments received will be taken into account before the Development Management Policies Document is modified and taken forward to the next stage.

Brent Council to act on wild animal abuse

Brent Council will adopt a formal policy regarding the use of animals at events in the Borough's parks and open spaces in a report going before the Executive on May 21st is approved. The policy reflects current concern, spear-headed by the RSPCA, about the use of wild animals in circuses and other events. The report states:

In the past the Council has received requests to hold events in its parks from circuses with performing animals as well as events which have included animal rides, dog shows and falconry displays. More recently there has been a significant increase in the number of events which local community groups want to organise and host on Council owned land. In 2011 the Parks service received a request to have elephants, tigers and camels included in large community events.

 

The Report suggest a policy that:

a.  Does not permit animals that come under the Schedule ‘Kinds of Dangerous Wild Animals’ in the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (Modification) (No.2) Order 2007, to be allowed to be part of any event including circuses and funfairs on the Council’s parks and open spaces.

b.  Does not permit the provision of live creatures as prizes at any event including circuses and funfairs on the Council’s parks and open spaces.

c.  Does permit animals that do not come under the Schedule ‘Kinds of Dangerous Wild Animals’ in the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (Modification) (No.2) Order 2007 to be part of an event including circuses and fun fairs on the Councils parks and open spaces. This would therefore allow for example dog shows, performing horses and falconry displays to take place.