Opposition as Wembley ASDA seeks to expand its empire

Forty Lane.Kings Drive and Asda access road last week

Strong opposition is building to plans by ASDA to built a four pump petrol station in its extsing car park in Wembley. (planning Ref 12/1268) The Walmart owned multinational withdrew a similar plan last year.(11/2679)

Local Labour councillor and chief whip, Shafique Choudhary, has called for the consultation period to be extended to six months rather than the present 'derisory' 14 days. (It was advertised on May 31st and will be decided no earlier than June 21st so the period was actually 21 days).

Residents are concerned about the dangers posed by the increased traffic at the junction that they feel will arise from the location of a petrol station there and have pointed out that other filling stations already exist in close proximity to ASDA. The junction has seen a number of collisions in recent times and there have been injuries to pedestrians as a result of crossing Forty Lane at the Town Hall bus stop.

Residents with flats overlooking ASDA are also concerned that the petrol station would already increase the significant light and noise nuisance from the store.

Lay out (petrol station lower right)

ASDA claim that the impact on traffic will be 'negligible' and that the majority of users will be existing customers using the car park.

Full details can be found on Brent Council website HERE

"Heard it in the playground, not enough space!"

Mindful of current concerns about child obesity and the lack of outdoor play opportunities for children, I have been interested in how the current school expansions affected the play space available to children when at school. Following a Freedom of Information request I now have the figures which are tabulated below.

These show an overall reduction in the space (expressed in square metres) available per child after expansion. I have left out those for Mugas (Multi-use games areas) as these are likely to be used per class or after school activity, rather than shared. Clearly however access will be less because more classes will have to be timetabled to use it within the confines of the school day.

The amount of playground space available at break times and lunch times is of major concern. Recent research has shown that children use more energy then than when they take part in PE activities. The reduction in play space can be addressed by staggering break times so that different phases or year groups use the playground at different times, but this then reduces the time for their use for class games activities.

Over crowded playgrounds restrict the amount of space for 'tearing about' and using up surplus energy as well as increasing the number of collisions, bumps and scrapes. Competition for space, unless well supervised, can lead to more playground fights.

Mitchell Brook Primary has the additional resource of Gibbons Recreation Ground which it backs onto, but the other schools are less fortunate.


PLAY SPACE IN SCHOOLS SCHEDULED FOR EXPANSION (square metres to nearest 0.5)

FRYENT	Existing (420 pupils)	Per pupil	Proposed (840 pupils)	Per pupil after expansion
Habitat	262		310
Hard Play/Games Courts	2447	6.0	3325	4.0
Pitches/Soft Play	6714	16.0	4974	6.0
Muga	360		360
BARHAM	Existing (630 pupils)		Proposed (840 pupils)
Habitat	Playing field edge		Playing field edge
Hard Play/Games Courts	2501	4.0	3254	4.0
Pitches/Soft Play	4748	7.5	3713	4.5
Muga	254		254
MITCHELL BROOK	Existing (420 pupils)		Proposed (630 pupils)
Hard Play/Games Courts	3773	9.0	2738	4.5

Read the comments on Zadie's 'North West London Blues'

The New York Review of Books posting of  Zadie Smith's commentary on the Willesden Green Library issue has generated many interesting comments. See them HERE

Free school still an option in Brent's school places plans

The dispute within Brent Labour about whether to pursue a free school partnership option to address the school places shortage appears to have been won by the 'pro' faction. Their argument had been that the priority was to get unplaced children into school and that by entering into partnerships the council could exercise some degree of control over the type of free school set up in the borough. The counter argument was that free schools undermine local authority schools, disrupt the systematic planning of school places, lack democratic accountability, and may reinforce class and religious divisions.

A report going  before the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on June 13th states:

In line with many other authorities, the Council is also exploring the potential for working with free school providers. There is government funding available for the development of free schools and any new schools that open are most likely to be Free Schools or Academies.

The report notes that an application by a Christian group for a free school in Brent is currently being considered by the DFE to open in September 2013.  The 'Bishop House School' would have space for 210 pupils (a one form entry primary). No location has been announced and an internet search has not yet yielded any  information about the school. Is Brent Council considering going into partnership to set up a Christian school?

The report sets out expansion plans that have taken place and are in the pipeline including 'non-traditional' ways such as the use of non-school buildings as 'satellites' to existing schools. Currently this includes the provision of two classes at the old Preston Library which will come under Preston Park Primary whose headteacher has also just been drafted into Park Lane Primary School following the suspension of its headteacher.

Interestingly the report is silent about the future of the Gwenneth Rickus (above) building in Brentfield Road. This was formerly part of the Sladebrook High School and is currently the Centre for Staff Development for Brent teachers. It is due to be closed in Summer 2013 and staff (if any survive the restructuring of the School Improvement Service) moved to the Civic Centre in Wembley.

The building has been refurbished to high standards with many energy saving features and could easily be adapted for a school building. However, there are rumours that it is to be put on the open market. Would a free school make a bid or will it be converted into flats on the model of the Dudden Hill school building?

Another option that is mentioned briefly but with no detail could be explored by the committee.  Land has been set aside in the Quintain development near Wembley Stadium for a possible new school. It is in  Fulton Road behind the retail park and would be financed through Section 106 funds.  The possibility of a school on the site was mentioned during consultations on the Wembley Area Plan with some concerns expressed about the need for action on 'dirty neighbours' such as waste processing plants.

The report states that as of 1st May 2012 388 children of statutory school age in Brent were without a school place. Parents had rejected 12 of only 14 places offered. There are 978 vacancies in Brent but 'these are not necessarily in the right geographical location of they may be vacancies in faith schools not available for all children'. Surely the latter point is one to be kept in mind if the council decides to form a free school partnership with a Christian organisation?

Brent has received capital funding recently to provide additional school places but the report predicts that on present projections it will not resolve the shortage: 'There is an extremely strong case for continuing to conduct a robust lobbying campaign in conjunction with London Councils'.

I would support such a campaign but I think that it should include demands that funds should be available to build new local authority schools, rather than academies or free schools.

Dan Jarvis backs Butt's attempt to seek Kensal Rise 'solution'

Dan Jarvis MP

Muhammed Butt has had a rocky start as Brent Council Leader issuing what appeared to be contradictory statements about his room for manoeuvre regarding the future of the closed libraries and then apparently torpedoed by the infamous 2am raid on Kensal Rise Library.

Now Dan Jarvis MP, Shadow Minister  for Culture, who had despaired that Brent Council's closure undermined Labour's opposition to library closures, has stepped in to back a new approach, albeit limited to volunteer solutions.

This was posted on his blog LINK on Friday:

Dan Jarvis MP, Labour’s Shadow Culture Minister, has welcomed Brent Council leader Muhammed Butt’s announcement today of an agreement to work with local campaign groups with the aim of keeping Kensal Rise library open as a community project.

The council is offering to start a dialogue with campaigners based on their offer to run the library at no cost to the council, and help them with a limited package of support, if the remaining obstacles to the transition can be overcome.

Councillor Butt said:

When I took over as the leader of Brent council in May I made it clear that I wanted to improve the relationship between the council and the community. That is what I hope we can achieve with this decision.

I was not leader when the decisions that led to Tuesday’s removal of materials from Kensal Rise library were taken, but that action happened on my watch and I take responsibility for it. Now I am determined to establish a new dialogue with the community in Kensal Rise. To this end, I have had a series of meetings since Tuesday with campaigners, fellow councillors, and council officers.

That does not mean I can offer an easy solution. Our libraries have to bear a share of spending cuts, and I make no apology for that. The deep reductions of over £100 million in Brent's budget imposed by this Tory-led government mean we have to make difficult choices about all our services. But it is also right that we have a meaningful discussion with local campaign groups, and if a way can be found to lessen the impact of the cuts without undermining our financial stability, then we should explore it.

What we have agreed today is to sit down with the campaign groups and work with them on the basis of their proposal to run the library at no ongoing cost to the council. The plan is also dependent on an arrangement being reached with All Soul’s College Oxford, which donated the land to the local community on condition it was used as a library, and on resolving a number of other issues. But the council will make every effort to overcome these obstacles.

As a gesture of my commitment to Kensal Rise library I have instructed officers to return the plaques taken from the library as soon as is practically possible. I have also instructed council officers to prepare a limited but significant package of support to help the transition, if an arrangement can be reached. This will include professional development and technical support, as well as seed funding.

Dan Jarvis said:

This is a very positive result that reflects Labour’s understanding of the importance of libraries to local communities, and the need to have as full a dialogue as possible on any changes to the service.

We hope this decision will mean Kensal Rise library is preserved as an asset for local people to use and develop. It is not an easy way out – it puts a good deal of responsibility on the shoulders of the campaigners and there are a number of issues that will need to be worked through before a final agreement can be reached. But we believe these obstacles can be overcome – and that this is an appropriate balance to strike between the wishes of those that want to see the library preserved and the financial pressures the council faces.

The council deserve credit for this move, and Councillor Butt has shown real leadership in coming forward with a solution at a difficult time for the council. He has my full support as this process continues.

The 'need to have as full a dialogue as possible (with communities)' should also apply to the other closed libraries and to the Willesden Green Redevelopment.

Zadie Smith pitches into Willesden Green battle

Zadie Smith campaigning for Kensal Rise Library

As the deadline for responses to the planning application for the Willesden Green Library Centre redevelopment nears, local author Zadie Smith, has written an illuminating article for the Keep Willesden Green blog where she asks, "What kind of problems is a library?" and pays homage to the Willesden Bookshop.

See the article on the Keep Willesden Green blog HERE  It is also available on the New York Review of Books website HERE

Children's noisy protest at Council's book seizure

Militant and noisy protest by children at Kensal Rise Library. Harness that energy for a brighter future!


Video from Brent SOS Libraries

Should Ann John participate in Willesden Green planning decision?

Shortly after being ousted as leader of Brent Council, Cllr Ann John joined the Planning Committee. The Committee will shortly be considering the planning application for the controversial redevelopment of Willesden Green Library Centre, which includes the demolition of the 1980s library and the Victorian library, loss of open space and the Willesden Bookshop's loss of premises, in exchange for a smaller library and the building of more than 90 luxury flats.

As leader and Executive member, Ann John was a keen supporter of the regeneration scheme.

Inevitably campaigners have seen a possible conflict of interest here as the Committee (rather like the infamous case Jeremy Hunt in the SkyB matter) exercises a statutorily independent duty.

In the Willesden and  Brent Times this week Ann John rounded on her critics:

This is a cheap shot from people who just want to have a go at me. I will of course approach any planning application with an open mind and take everything into account and following planning guidelines. Backing the scheme pre-planning is not the same as having a pre-conceived notion about it.  I will be looking from a planning point of view only, as will all the planning officers.

The penultimate sentence in her statement is clearly a matter of semantics but with far-reaching consequences. The Council's Constitution (Codes and Protocols)  LINK indicates that campaigners may have grounds for requesting that Cllr John absent herself from discussion of this particular planning application.

A general principle can be extracted from the guidelines on Scrutiny:

Prejudicial interests arising in relation to overview and scrutiny committees

11.

You also have a prejudicial interest in any business before an overview and scrutiny committee of your authority (or of a sub-committee of such a committee) where -

(a) that business relates to a decision made (whether implemented or not) or action taken by your authority's executive or another of your authority's committees, sub-committees, joint committees or joint sub-committees; and

(b) at the time the decision was made or action was taken, you were a member of the executive, committee, sub committee, joint committee or joint sub- committee mentioned in paragraph (a) and you were present when that decision was made or action was taken

Ann John was a member of the Brent Executive that took the decision top go ahead with the Willesden Green Redevelopment.

The guidelines for Planning Committee members state:

30. Members of the Planning Committee shall refrain from personal abuse and party political considerations shall play no part in their deliberations. Members of the Planning Committee shall be respectful to the Chair and to each other and to officers and members of the public including applicants, their agents and objectors and shall not bully any person. Members of the Planning Committee should not make up their mind before hearing and considering all relevant information at the meeting and should not declare in advance of the meeting, how they intend to vote on a particular application or other matter

The question for Ann John is,  to quote a phrase used in the Codes and Protocols,  whether her previous comments are such that  'a member of the public with  knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant  that it is likely to prejudice your judgement of the public interest'.

I would argue that campaigners' concerns are not a 'cheap shot' as Ann John claims but a legitimate onjection that should be seriously considered by the Council's legal officers.