Preston Community Library re-opens on Saturday

 

Preston Community Library will re-open in temporary premises in Ashley Gardens on Saturday while redevelopment takes place on its former site. 

 

LATEST: Bridge Park vs Brent Council Appeal

The case in the Appeal Court for Appellant 1, Leonard Johnson was declined this morning by the Appeal Court Justices.

The case for Appellant 2, Stonebridge Community Trust began this afternoon and will continue tomorrow from10.30am. 

To request to attend the virtual hearing apply to:  katie.patel@justice.gov.uk

Family in flooded Brent Council accommodation in despair after multiple repairs failures and lack of response to complaints

Look carefully and you can see the water leaking through the walls and from the  water-blocked roof ceiling

 

Guest post by ‘Distraught Brent Council Tenants’ who contacted Wembley Matters who hope that publicising this issue will lead to action by Brent Council.

 

The above images depict the consequences we have had to suffer because of Brent Council Repairs team's negligence and apathy towards their loyal tenants at no fault of ours. Despite numerous complaints since 2013, Brent Council has failed to solve the disrepairs, for which they are solely accountable. Having never had rent arrears and never withheld rent for the past 14 years, the repair team’s inactivity and profound failure to meet their responsibilities has caused us financial loss, distress, and inconvenience, forcing us to attempt to treat the aftermaths of flooding and leakages ourselves. Despite having clearly identified and communicated the source of these issues, the large amount of debris/dead leaves falling from a nearby tree onto the roof in the Autumn season causes blockage of rainfall, the voices of my family have repeatedly been silenced.

 

Having exhausted all complaint procedures including liaising with Brent’s MP and contacting the Ombudsman and Councillors, with complaints of endless leakages into the property leading to 2 major floods, one of which the Fire Brigade was called to immediately clear 10 inches of contaminated blocked roof water, no genuine action has been taken by the Repairs Team. Upon clearing of roof water due to the Flooding in the premises in October 2020, the firefighter on the scene mentioned that the "roof requires restructuring as gutter channels are too small in width to allow enough water through the pipe” (surprised that such a small opening would provide access for water across such a large area to flow through). An electrician assigned by Brent Council attended 10 full hours after the incident occurred leaving us exposed to the heightened health and safety risk of electrocution that the flooding had caused. Even more appalling is that a contractor, assigned by Brent Council to clear the roof water, arrived 12 full hours after the incident (with no access to the roof to do the works)!

 

Since October 2020, we have had no lighting to the living room and hallway and the Council has yet communicated a concrete solution or timeframe to this disrepair. The council, leaving this matter unresolved, has further exacerbated recurring internal property damages as winter/rainfall season approaches also disregarding the financial loss and personal expense costs, costing thousands of pounds related to the redecoration with mould treatment, re-furnishing, disposal, and replacement of contaminated goods alongside increased heating and electricity costs. Putting the heating on and dehumidifying for prolonged periods to dry wet walls due to excess moisture has forced us to see at least 4 fold increases in our bills as a direct result.

 

Numerous complaints have also been constantly raised regarding chronic cold conditions and penetrating damp growth as a direct result of leaking water from the roof exacerbating existing health conditions my family have had to cope with over the years. Mould exposure and a musty, unpleasant odour sourced from the flooding and unbearably cold temperatures have made our home a misery and unsafe to live in. With damaged goods, flooring and furniture being disposed of because of the floods, the Council has not acknowledged this and shamelessly continues to turn a blind eye.

 

Endless chains of complaints between surveyors, the Repairs Department, and the Chief Executive as a result of the Council's inactivity and poor communication between surveyors and those holding managerial positions within the Service department have caused us concern and worry about our health and safety within the property.

 

Inspections and Surveyors

The council neglected to communicate the next steps after a 2-hour long inspection involving evidence being taken by a surveyor in the form of numerous reports and pictures. With Brent Council’s tenancy agreement specifying that:

 

"Within five working days of this appointment the surveyor will decide what work needs to be done, raise the necessary works orders and write to you with confirmation of the timescale within which this work will be carried out."(p16 of https://www.brent.gov.uk/media/16412335/tenancy-guide-final.pdf),

 

this has never happened to be the case. Neither of these aspects had been relayed after inspections - deeming it a complete waste of time.

 

In addition, inspection reports have been reported missing with surveyors suggesting they have no access to previous reports. A high turnover rate of surveyors has also meant newly appointed surveyors have no previous understanding of the case since 2013 resulting in a vicious cycle of visits and missed reports. Having different surveyors enter the property for "inspections" and making verbal expressions of supposedly "reporting and following up" of reports have proved unsupported by genuine action causing us to believe this as a threat to our personal safety.

 

●      In January 2018, CEO stated "On December 2017 an inspection was requested from our contractor to look at your overflow pipe...Although this inspection was requested I have to report that it has not been carried out"

●      Project Manager in Sep 2018 stated: "Surveyor, attended your home...however left shortly thereafter and did not supply the information which you have explained were discussed”

 

There have been many occasions whereby surveyors have randomly shown up whilst others failed to attend within their booked slots. However, as would any other resident, we are not obliged to allow access into the property for a random show of surveyors without pre-scheduled appointments in agreement with the tenant. This, once again, indicates the lack of transparency and communication between the Repairs Team, surveyors and tenants.

 

Comments from Contractors

 

●      October 2020: Roofer attended property with no access to the roof as council did not provide key and  said he would not be able to attend roof physically “due to health and safety reasons” despite being a roofer. Said it was “mostly paperwork” and would hear from the Council soon. It has been more than a year since and this has not been the case.

●      We overheard a contractor asking the other whether he knew the resident he initially spoke to from within the property was a "black lady” before knocking on the door. Is Brent tolerating such poor standards by paying thousands to partner with contractors who seem to be endorsing such comments? These events certainly seem to conflict with Brent Council’s Equality Strategy 2019-2023 whereby they are committed to:

 

“ensure consistency in the delivery of equality across the council. Contractors [are]...to comply with equality duties set out in the Equality Act 2010” (https://www.brent.gov.uk/media/16415181/equality-strategy-2019-23.pdf )

 

Lack of communication and no responses from Repairs Team/MPs/Councillors

●      We have been complaining about the inactivity of repair works more recently but since June 2021 have had no response, email or communications from the council.

●      An email sent 2nd of June 2021 to Housing Councillor requesting that she put pressure on the repairs team to escalate the case has not been responded to since.

●      Email sent to Brent’s MP on Nov 10 2021, no response received since

 

Each and every Repairs staff member, contractor & MP/Councillor has failed us profoundly. It is a complete disgrace and altogether unacceptable that my family and I must suffer at the expense of the failures of Brent Council’s Repairs team for an excruciating period, who are being directly reimbursed for their inactivity by each taxpayer. Each resident should be able to enjoy a “habitable” home, be entitled to the basic repairs service they deserve and not have to experience the outcome of poor communication between and standards of contractors and senior members of the repairs team!

 

 

African Winter Market & Wendy Shearer book signing - Saturday December 18th

 

Bridge Park hearing starts tomorrow - how to attend remotely

 Save Bridge Park Appeal - Court Hearing Details:

The hearing on 14th, 15th and 16th Dec 2021 - will  not now be made available through Live YouTube streaming to the Community and Public:

 To attend the hearing virtually apply to katie.patel@justice.gov.uk

 

RCJ Appeal Court - Strand, London WC2A 2LL

How well do you know Wembley? Try this Christmas Picture Quiz!

 Readers may remember a “Who’s Who” Picture Quiz last December. As Wembley History Society is still not able to meet again in person, Philip Grant has prepared another picture quiz for Christmas 2021. You are invited to have a go as well!

 

 

There are ten old photographs from around the Wembley area, and two questions with each of them. See how many you know the answers to, either just for fun or to see how you score when the answers are published next Sunday.

 

There are no prizes, but the bonus is that the fewer you know, the more about Wembley you’ll find out next weekend!

Ram Singh Nehra – a Wembley Indian in the 1930s – Part 2

Philip Grant continues his Guest series.

 

 Welcome back to this story of an Indian solicitor who lived in Wembley around 90 years ago. If you missed Part 1, you can find it here. 

 

We left Ram Singh Nehra when he was standing as a Labour candidate for Fryent Ward, in elections for the new Wembley Council in March 1934. I asked: ‘would the people of Wembley in the 1930s vote for a man who wasn’t white?’ The answer was “yes”, but not quite enough of them to win him a seat on the Council. Whether his colour meant that he didn’t receive the small number of extra votes which would have seen him elected is something we will never know.

 

The Fryent Ward election result, from the “Wembley News”, 30 March 1934. (Brent Archives)

 

The Fryent Ward count, at Wembley Council’s Park Lane School on the evening of the election, must have been a tense affair. The result was very close, with only 35 votes separating Mr Crook, who topped the poll, from his fellow Labour candidate, Mr Nehra, at the foot of the list. In between were the two representatives of the Ratepayers’ Association, both existing Kingsbury councillors. Mr Ashman, who’d been Chairman of Kingsbury U.D.C., was so shocked to lose his seat that he demanded a recount!

 

The “Wembley News” report about Labour’s 1934 Fryent Ward election campaign.

(From the local newspaper microfilms at Brent Archives)

 

The newspaper report above shows how good canvassing in Fryent Ward beforehand had helped the Labour Party to win a local Council seat in Kingsbury for the very first time. This enabled them to ensure that all their likely supporters, who might not have been able to get to the polling station at Fryent School without assistance, were taken there by motor car to vote! 

 

You might not expect that a “working class” party in 1934 could muster ‘a fleet of cars’ on polling day, but that is where Mr Nehra and his wide circle of friends played their part. Imagine the surprise of some residents, when a chauffeur driven limousine, with a coat of arms on its side, drew up outside their home to take them to the polling station! It had been loaned for the day by the Saudi Arabian Ambassador.

 

Sheikh Hafiz Wahba (and his limousine) in 1930. (Image from the internet)

 

Sheikh Hafiz Wahba was the Saudi Ambassador to the UK from 1930 until 1956. You may remember that he was one of the VIP guests at the Nehra’s Garden Party in July 1934, and he had come to know Ram Singh Nehra quite well. This was partly because Nehra’s Central Hindu Society saw Hinduism as a cultural identity much as a religion, and was keen on promoting Hindu-Muslim co-operation.

 

There is evidence of this from a 1935 report in “The Indian”, headed “Prophet’s Birthday”:

 

‘The Muslim Society in Great Britain held a reception on Wednesday, the 12th of June, at 8 p.m., at Portman Rooms, Baker Street, to celebrate the Birthday of the Holy Prophet Mohammad. His Excellency Sheikh Hafiz Wahba, the Saudi Arabian Minister to the Court of St. James’s, was in the chair. 

 

Proceedings began with a recitation from the Qoran. Before starting further proceedings, the following message from Mr. R. S. Nehra, the President of the Hindu Society, was read — To the President, British Muslim Society, London: 

 

Dear Sir,

Hearty congratulations on the celebration of the birthday of the Holy Prophet. His example is a beacon guidance to all human beings of the necessity, practicability and virtues of democracy in daily life. 

 

Sorry my wife’s serious illness prevents me from joining you all this evening.’

 

Sir Abdul Qadir in 1935. (Image from the internet)

 

Sir Abdul Qadir was a leading member of The Muslim Society at the time, and like Nehra was also born in Ludhiana. Nehra’s good relations with the Muslim community may well date back to his childhood. Although Ludhiana was in the 

 

Punjab, when Nehra was growing up there in the early 20^th century only around 5% of its citizens were Sikhs. Of the rest, about two-thirds were Muslims and one-third Hindus. It is sad that Nehra’s good relationship with fellow Indians of a different religion was not widely reflected among the people of the sub-continent, when independence from Britain was achieved in 1947, and partition led to sectarian violence.

 

In a biographical article in “The Indian”, about ‘the editor’, Nehra described himself as ‘a man of very abstemious habits.’ He disliked smoking and drinking, and preferred lemonade to tea. Of his daily routine he wrote:

 

‘Even though he has been away from India for so many years, yet he is an early riser and starts work at six and never misses his morning bath. He takes pleasure in his work and that is why he works for 14 hours and sleeps for 8 and the rest of the time he employs in attending to daily needs and a little relaxation between the hours of 8 and 9 in the evening.’

 

He believed in devoting 10% of his profits and 5% of his time to charitable work and institutions. His hobbies were ‘building, books, journalism and social gatherings’, and his sporting interests were ‘swimming, tennis and driving.’ Both Mr and Mrs Nehra were keen tennis players (perhaps that is how they met, in Mombasa), and as the “Metroland” homes in Chalkhill Road were built on large plots, some would have had a tennis court in their back garden.

 

Aerial view of the Chalkhill and Barn Hill estates, March 1939, with “The Shalimar” arrowed.
(Source: Brent Archives)

 

Although Nehra claimed in his biographical note that ‘by temperament he is always cheerful and hospitable’, and that he did not ‘indulge in anger or fiery outbursts’, he was not afraid to express his views quite forcefully. One regular feature of “The Indian” was his “Open Letters for the Public Good”, and he wrote them ‘without fear, favour or malice’. 

 

Being free to speak truth to power is an important part of any good democracy. One of his letters was to the newly appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies, in Stanley Baldwin’s National Government of June 1935. After giving ‘hearty congratulations on your appointment’, he encouraged the Minister to ‘follow the spirit expressed by His Royal Majesty the King in his memorable Jubilee message’, and respect the rights of all people of different classes, colour, creed and countries. He went on:

 

‘You know, Indians form a larger majority of immigrants in the Colonies than any other race. Owing to the peace-loving disposition of Indians, their legitimate rights and interests have so far not been well protected in any of the Colonies. The local white immigrants out of sheer short-sightedness and selfishness are ill-treating the British Indians in nearly all the Colonies. The local Governors often yield to the local influence of the white agitation and pressure. It is for you to keep the balance and assist or direct, as the case may be, the local governors to treat Indians justly and fairly. Remember that the interests of the Empire and world peace are more important and vital than the interests of a handful of Englishmen or Europeans in a Colony.’

 

Nehra was well aware of the injustices which could occur in the Colonies, because he was a Privy Council agent. That meant he could act as a legal representative, on behalf of people or companies appealing to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. This acted as the Court of Appeal for cases decided in High Courts across the British Empire. 

 

“The Indian” included a section devoted to reports of Privy Council hearings. One interesting case was an appeal by a lawyer and a newspaper editor, seeking to overturn a judgement against them by the Allahabad High Court for contempt of court. Their “contempt” was publicly alleging that inferior judges had been appointed to the Allahabad High Court, and that better qualified candidates had been overlooked, because of their caste.

 

R. Nehra & Co are shown as the agent in a number of cases. In one, Nehra represented the respondent in an appeal by the Bombay Commissioner of Income Tax, against a judgement of the High Court in Bombay (Mumbai), where the point at issue was ‘whether the rights of a woman under a family settlement have been forfeited owing to unchastity.’

 

Through his magazine, Nehra published the results of all Indian students who had come to England to study law, as well as giving the overall results for Bar exams. One example from 1935 was: ‘Examined, 223; Passed,154 (Indians, 44)’. He also gave advice to Indians coming to here to study:

 

‘Do not buy or bring many suits with you from India, because they will not be used in England owing to their inferior cut and poor material. One or two pairs of shoes would be sufficient until your arrival in England. If possible, wait until you arrive here before you purchase your overcoat.’

 

As “The Indian” had a wide circulation among not just the worldwide Indian community, but also people in Britain with an interest in the sub-continent, it often carried “small ads”. Here are just a couple of typical examples:

 

INDIAN LADY medical student requires board lodging with a private family, 2 years’ course or more. Give full particulars. — Box 454, c/o The Indian. 

 

CEYLON STUDENT wants boarding house near a tennis club. — Write Box 458, c/o The Indian.

 

Nehra welcomed new Indian students to London with a reception at Veeraswamy’s in Regent Street. This was the capital’s first Indian restaurant, and had introduced Indian food to this country in the Indian Pavilion at the British Empire Exhibition, held at Wembley in 1924/25.

 

Veeraswamy’s Restaurant, in a BEE advertisement and at Regent Street. (Images from the internet)

 

This was Nehra’s advice on food to Indians coming here:

 

‘You may find some difficulty regarding food. There are many Indian Restaurants and Hostels that cater for Indians. At the beginning it will be of great help if you make use of these establishments, till you slowly get thoroughly accustomed to the western tasteless foods.’

 

As well as all of his other interests, Ram Singh Nehra still had political ambitions. This paragraph appeared in a newspaper in April 1936:

 

(Image from the internet)

 

Did Nehra stand for election to Parliament, and what other twists and turns did his life take in the late 1930s? Please join me next weekend, for the concluding part of his story.


Philip Grant,
December 2021.

OPINION PIECE: Cllr Butt should think again about Brent Cabinet responsibility for safeguarding after Arthur Labinjo-Hughes' death

I checked with Brent Council today after the Kilburn Times wrote that Cllr Margaret McLennan, Deputy Leader, was taking over Cllr Mili Patel's portfolio.  Patel stepped down from her role on Monday. I had been told something different by a usually reliable source at the council:

Could you clarify the details of which Cabinet members are taking over/sharing Cllr Patel’s portfolio as clearly Safeguarding is extremely importance as highlighted by the recent child murder case. The Kilburn Times has quoted Cllr McLennan as taking over the entire portfolio while I understood from my sources that it was shared between Cllr Stephens and Cllr Farbi.

I suspect it has been split between them and if so could you say who is responsible for each aspect.

Brent Council replied that they stood by their previous statement:

"Councillor Mili Patel has stepped down from her cabinet role to take time out. Deputy Leader, Councillor Margaret McLennan, will take over the portfolio.”

This give me cause for concern, not because I doubt Cllr McLennan's commitment and ability regarding safeguarding, but because of the responsibilities she already has, particularly at a time when she is working on the Council's budget for 2022-21.

This is now her portfolio with Cllr Patel's responsibilities added:

• Finance / HR
• IT / Digital transformation
• Council Tax
• Business Rates
• Customer Services
• Citizenship &Registration
• Community Hubs
• Legal
• Performance
• Members Enquiries / FOI / Complaints
• Social Value
• Equalities
• Procurement
• Safeguarding & Looked After Children / YOT
• Social Work Teams
• Early Help & Children’s Centres
• Youth Service & Connexions
• Troubled Families
• Safeguarding in Schools
• Corporate Parenting
• SEND Pupil Referral Units
• Alternative Education
• Youth Parliament

 The case of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes highlighted not just the dramatic impact of lockdown on family life and the impact of the loss of the usual monitoring by schools of vulnerable children, but also the years of cuts and under-investment in children's services.

These are dangerous times for children and could be a life and death matter. In Brent we have to remember the case of Victoria Climbie LINK and ensure that such a case does not happen again.

Over my career in education I have been responsibile both as a teacher and a governor for Safeguarding, Child Protection and Looked After Children. I thought that the splitting of responsibilities, that complemented existing ones held by Cllr Thomas and Farbi, was a sensible idea if it was not practical to appoint a replacement for Cllr Patel.

We do not know what the winter holds in terms of further lockdowns and potential school closures, but things do not look good. I urge Council leader Muhammed Butt to think again for the sake of our children.