Kensal Rise campaigners hope for genuine dialogue with Butt

Great footage at Kensal Rise Library yesterday from BNCTV showing spirited campaigners on their mobiles to Muhammed Butt, the new leader of Brent Council.  One campaigners says she thinks Butt is genuinely interested in a dialogue about the library's future.

LINK TO VIDEO

Statement by BNCTV on Jim and Ruth Moher

BNCTV (North West London) has put out the following statement regarding their story 'Forward Together But Who Is Behind Ann John's Deposition' which was also carried on this website.

Councillor Jim Moher strongly denies any kind of involvement in the selection process for the Leader Brent Council. He is adamant that the information revealed by BNCTV NorthWest London in our article “Forward Together But Who Is Behind Ann John’s Deposition?”, 15/05/12, is not true. He also feels that it might be damaging to his reputation, which we think should not be regarded as such.

It is only fair to say that the information included in the article stating that “A source within Brent Council has told BNCTV that Councillors Jim and Ruth Moher could be the people who played major part in this selection process” should not be regarded as a valid point. Although playing part in a selection process might not be bad in itself, regardless of any conspiracy theories one might think about, we would not want Cllrs Jim and Ruth Moher feel bad about it.

We are more than happy to clarify this.

On several occasions, speaking with and interviewing both Jim and Ruth Moher, they always came across as nice and honest people and we strongly believe that.

The selection process for the Leader of Brent Council, as put by the new Council Leader, Cllr Muhammed Butt should only be regarded as “purely democratic” process.

Brent libraries hit the headlines again: links

There has been widespread press coverage of the Kensal Rise Library battle yesterday as well as Brent Council leadership changes. Here are some of the stories and links:

Tim Lott: Brent council models itself on 'Goodfellas'
The Independent
I spent most of yesterday standing outside my library in Kensal Rise, north-west London, trying both to stop Brent Council removing the books and to work out what Kafkaesque logic brought me here. Since the decision to close the library in 2010, ...LINK



Kensal Rise library campaigners gain another day
The Guardian
Shortly after midday on Wednesday, one of the local authority workers caught up in the often bitter hostilities between Brent council and those fighting to save Kensal Rise library took it upon themselves to lighten the
mood a little.LINK



Campaigners block council's efforts to remove books from Kensal Rise library
The Guardian
Around 50 campaigners have gathered outside Kensal Rise library in north-west London after Brent council workers began removing books from the closed library, which has become a key battleground in the fight over local authority cuts.LINK



Brent Council deny claims Kensal Rise library was stripped of books today to ...
Brent and Kilburn Times
Claims that attempts to strip an axed library branch of it books was carried out today to stop the new council leader from reversing the decision has been denied. Cllr Paul Lorber, leader of Brent's Lib Dems, has accused Cllr James Powney, ...LINK


Sports charity given 'run around' by Brent Council over disused Barham Park ... Harrow Times
A sports charity for young people claims Brent Council is "dragging its  feet" over a disused library building they hope to rent as their new centre. Track Academy, run by Brent resident Connie Henry, offers sports
activities to disadvantaged children, ...LINK



Protest success as council stops library clearance
Harrow Observer
The new leader of Brent Council Muhammed Butt found himself under pressure this morning when the protesters formed a human barrier to stop council staff loading up vans full of books and IT equipment. Campaigners were "delighted" to announce this ... LINK


Angry campaigners continue library protest
Harrow Observer
More than 50 people flocked to the facility this morning to witness a team of council staff start to strip the building, one of six libraries closed by Brent Council. Campaigners have tried to form a human barricade to put a halt to the clear out. LINK



New Brent leader is urged to reverse library closures
Evening Standard
Campaigners fighting to save Brent's libraries were today given fresh hope after the council's new leader promised a “fresh approach” to running the borough. Muhammed Butt has replaced Ann John as leader of an authority heavily criticised for shutting ... LINK


Kensal Rise campaigners barricade doors
The Bookseller
Library campaigners in Kensal Rise have barricaded the doors to prevent council staff from clearing the building of books today. Around 50 campaigners have gathered outside the Brent library and prevented eight council workers accompanied by Brent's ... LINK


Brent Labour Council Leader's final day in office marred by ... Councillor Ann John's final day in office as Council Leader has been marked by Brent Council removing books and computers from the historic Kensal Rise LINK
...


Brent Council Executive 2012 / 2013 « Cllr Krupesh Hirani
Following the Brent Council Annual General Meeting of 2012 tonight, the emerging Cabinet is as follows: ... Deputy Leader of Brent Council – Cllr Ruth Moher ... LINK


Campaigners block council's efforts to remove books from Kensal ... Around 50 campaigners have gathered outside Kensal Rise library in north-west London after ... LINK


Brent Labour must now work with campaigners - Teather (London ... Local Lib Dem MP Sarah Teather has welcomed reports that Labour-run Brent Council have temporarily put a halt to the ransacking of Kensal Rise library, but ...  LINK

Mohers deny role in John's ousting and threaten libel action

I received the following e-mail yesterday from Jim and Ruth Moher.

Dear Mr Francis,

16th May 2012

On Tuesday 15th May, you republished an item on your 'Wembley Matters' blog headed, 'BNCTV names the Mohers as possible conspirators behind John's ousting'.

This is a scurrious libel on us from an anonymous 'source' by BNCTV, which you have given much wider circulation to. It is extremely damaging to our reputation in the Brent Labour Group of councillors and Party and  Brent Council. It is completely untrue.

We demand an unreserved apology from you and equally prominant space to rebut it on your blog. We are also taking legal advice as to how best to proceed in law against BNCTV and you for compensation in  respect of this very serious libel.

yours sincerely,

Jim and Ruth Moher

Ruth Moher was confirmed as Deputy Leader of Brent Council at yesterday's Annual Meeting of the council and Jim Moher continues as an Executive member.

I responded to their e-mail thus:

Dear Jim and Ruth,

I am not sure if WM has a wider circulation than a TV channel. As my blog states I am happy to publish any comments etc and will be happy to a publish any guest blog that you wish to write setting out your position and also Tweet it so that it has the same circulation.  

As I understand normal proceedings in such cases that arrangement would mean no further legal action would be taken.

If you send me your statement in the body of an e-mail or as a word document it can be put up on my blog within minutes. I will be going out about 6.30pm so if you can get it to me before then it will be published before the AGM.

Regards,

Martin Francis

No statement for the blog arrived before I went out but I will post it as soon as it is received. I look forward to it with interest.

Barred by Democratic Services from entry to Brent Council meeting

I am sorry to disappoint readers who were expecting a blow by blow account of the Annual Council Meeting tonight. Brent  Democratic Services refused me admission despite the Agenda clearly stating 'The press and public are welcome to attend this meeting'.

I was told that I could only attend by invitation and the the meeting was mainly ceremonial.  I pointed out the wording on the agenda and that  Item 5 involved changes to the constitution which affected petitions.  I also wanted to observe the vote for the new leader. I was told there wouldn't be debate on the constitutional amendment  but  if space was found I might be let in.  However the Democratic Services Officer concerned never returned to the lobby and security were not letting anyone through.

The Council were clearly expecting trouble and I heard the Democratic Services Officerr briefing the police that disruption was expected over the the vote for the new leader. Half a dozen police and about the same number of PCSOs  were present as well as AA security.

I retired to the Torch with friends and enjoyed a pint of delicious Doom Bar bitter from Cornwall which was probably more pleasurable.

On the way home I bumped into Cllr Michael Pavey, my opponent in the Barnhill by-election, who admitted that being barred by Democratic Services from watching democracy in action was 'a bit ironic'.

He told me that everything had gone through smoothly except for a spat about political representation on Brent Housing Partnership.

No a new dawn for democracy in Brent...

Kensal Rise emptying stopped after protests

Outside Kensal Rise Library earlier today

The local press are now reporting that after protesters tried to prevent council officers removing books and equipment from Kensal Rise, and after telephone conversations with Brent Council leader-elect Muhammed Butt, that the emptying has been stopped.

Further information:

KILBURN TIMES


WEMBLEY AND WILLESDEN OBSERVER

Butt: Libraries 'not an issue' in leadership change

In an interview with Michael R Goss of BNCTV LINK incoming Brent Council leader Muhammed Butt  says that the library closure controversy was 'not an issue' in the leadership change which saw him ousting Ann John.  He said the change was 'democracy in action'.

He defended the Civic Centre project and the Willesden Green regeneration and said that the library closure programme was forced on the Council by the Coalition's funding cuts. The interview was conducted yesterday before the Council emptied the Kensal Rise Library. He said that  no action can be taken on Kensal Rise until the outcome of the reverter to All Souls but that once in office he will respond the various e-mail from campaign groups.

In a key passage outlining how he would be different to Ann John he said:

What I want to do is take stock of what we're doing at the moment and see what we need to do taking into consideration the budget we've just implemented.  The we need to engage with our councillors, especially between the front bench and the back benchers - get them involved in the decision making process so everyone has an input and also I want to have more engagement with out residents and the electorate, listen to them rather than just sort of blindly defending our decisions.

I want to be able to go out to them, reach out to them, explain to them as to why we've taken the decisions we have.

Asked if this was an issue in the library controversy he said:

We should have got our messages a bit more clearer and that's why I'm saying we want to engage with people. I think our communication with the library campaigns, the electorate and perhaps within the Council, could have been a lot clearer and we could have explained things in simple terms, easier terms and expressed the enormity of the £32m cuts we had to make.

Muhammed Butt said that the resignation of the Labour Chief Whip was just a matter of taking advantage of the AGM. He expressed confidence in Cllr Shafique Choudhary, the new whip, and said he was confident that the Labour Group would get behind his leadership despite the close 21 to 19 vote.

Butt says he was not aware of Kensal Rise empyting plans but declines to visit scene

The Kilburn Times reports on today's events HERE

They quote Butt as saying:

I am in the process of trying to ascertain exactly what is going on but I am not the leader of the council yet and don’t become the leader until tomorrow so I need to work to find out why this is happening.

I will however be willing to speak to the campaigners in the future about possibly moving forward with All Soul’s and the best way to progress with this.