Shahrar Ali challenges UKIP's Magnus Nielsen on overseas aid

UKIP candidate Magnus Nielsen  (Hampstead and Kilburn) told people attending last night's Catholic hustings at the Church of Transfiguration, Kensal Rise, that they should dig into their own pockets to provide Overseas Aid, reducing addressing inequality to a personal matter rather than a government obligation.

Green candidate Shahrar Ali (Brent Central)  responded by saying that world poverty was a systemic issue based on inequality and globalisation that would be worsened by climate change.

Nielsen has a history of controversy, particularly regarding Islam LINK and  appears quite a different kettle of fish to the apparently rather more benign Stephen Priestley, standing for UKIP in Brent Central.

The Daily Mirror has published a video of an anti-Islam speech by Nielsen HERE

Preston Library 'Bookaway' World Book Night April 23rd

Brent Cabinet environment post may not be replaced

Since my post about Cllr George Crane stepping down as lead member for environment and speculation about his replacement LINK, I have heard that the post may be incorporated into an existing cabinet role.

It will be argued that this reflects the reduction in environment responsibilities with most of the Council function out-sourced to Veolia.

It will also conveniently avoid any competition for the role and the testing of loyalties to 'The Leader', Cllr Muhammed Butt.

One of the councillors most qualified for the position challenged the leadership over Council Tax.

Given the power of the Cabinet this will reduce decision making to just 7 people.

Brent Council claim 9,000 plus households have opted to pay £40 'Garden Tax' for green waste collection

Brent Council sent out the following press release last week. I print it unedited.

Two hundred households are signing up for the new garden waste service everyday as new household waste and recycling services in Brent get underway.

As of this month, changes to our waste and recycling services mean that collections from green bins, which were for both food and garden waste, have now ceased and have been replaced by a new food waste container for every household and a separate garden waste collection service.
Residents who want to continue to have their garden waste collected from their green bin will need to pay £40.

So far, 9,000 households have signed up for the service, with this number expected to rise as the warmer weather and longer days mean that residents who previously did not see a need for the service, may decide to opt-in.

UNWANTED GREEN BINS WILL BE COLLECTED IN JUNE

In response to this demand, we are delaying collecting the old green food and garden waste bins until June – when days in the year are at their longest - to provide residents with the option of opting-in at short notice.

However, from June, remaining households that have not signed up for the service will have their old garden waste bin removed.

The changes to the waste collection service also mean a change in how often the bins are emptied.

As of this month, food bins and the blue top recycling bins will now be collected every week, whereas general household waste and the garden waste collections will take place fortnightly.

Collection days for household waste and recycling will remain the same, however households which opt-in to the garden waste bin collection service will be notified of their collection day when they subscribe.

Visit our recycling pages to check your waste and recycling collection days, or to sign up for the garden waste collection service.