Brent budget making process threatened by suspension of Director of Finance

The news that Clive Heaphy, Brent's  Director of Finance has been suspended while allegations of gross misconduct are investigated deals a further blow to Brent's budget making process that takes place at this time of the year.

A Brent Council spokesman said the allegations were not related to financial irregularities and Cllr Muhammed Butt, leader of the council, said, "Suspension is a neutral act and does not imply guilt in any way. When allegations are made, you have to follow them up and that is exactly what we are doing."

Former Ofsted chief takes over as Acting Brent Chief Executive

With amazing timing Brent Council has announced, on the eve of the Brent Education Debate (Copland High School, Wembley 7pm tomorrow), that it has appointed Christine Gilbert former Ofsted Chief Inspector, as Acting Chief Executive. Before that she was the Chief Executive of Tower Hanmets.  She is expected to start in November and will remain in post until the permanent new Chief  Executive is appointed, which could take several months.

This is what the Guardian said about her soon after she moved from Ofsted when Michael Gove became Secretary of State for Education:

A shy media performer, Gilbert is known for being tough on schools. She triggered controversy with headteachers by raising the bar for inspections, insisting that a "satisfactory" grading would no longer be enough and that all schools should be aiming to be rated at least "good", if not "outstanding".

Ofsted inspection results have improved steadily over the period. Most recently, she claimed that too many lessons in English schools are still "dull and inspiring".

She was heavily criticised over Ofsted's role in the inspection of Haringey council during the period when Peter Connolly – known as Baby P – was killed. She admitted failings in the inspection system that rated the council "good" during that period, though insisted she was already reforming the system.

There were suggestions that Gilbert was seen as too close to the previous Labour government. A headteacher by the age of 32, she was head of education at Tower Hamlets, where she dramatically improved schools, before being appointed to Ofsted in 2006. She is married to the former Labour minister Tony McNulty.

McNulty lost his Harrow East seat at the 2010 election. He resigned from his government position earlier after press allegations over his expenses.

Muhammed Butt announcing the appointment said:

I am delighted that Christine has agreed to accept the post. She has a wealth of local government experience at the most senior level and will provide inspirational leadership to the council in the months ahead.

Brent is proud of its achievements to date and although already a high performing organisation we are committed to providing even better services to residents under the Council's new leadership team. Residents can expect to see a range of exciting transformations in the quality of services we provide to the local community.

Gilbert is likely to have a major influence on the 2012-13 budget which will include more cuts to local services as well as a possible 2.5% rise in Council Tax.

Good news for play in Chalkhill

So much has been done to improve Chalkhill Estate and its primary school that I thought Chalkhill needed some positive coverage after the sad news reported elsewhere.

Chalkhill Primary is an accredited Healthy School and believes in the importance of play not just for keeping healthy but also for how it contributes to learning.

Children came back after the summer holiday to find a whole new Early Years Playground.  A state of the art new Early Years building at the school will also open this month. The Junior Playground will have a similar make-over later this year and the nearby Chalkhill Park should be finished by November.

Needless to say the children were incredibly excited when they saw their new playground and couldn't wait to try it out.

Adventurous Play  Equipment

Outside Music Workshop

Balcony Imaginative Play Areai

 

Climbing wall in the Junior Playground

Floral tributes to Chalkhill murder victim

Floral tributes to Arron Payne outside Chalkhill Medical Centres

Police Appeal in nearby Wembley  ASDA's window

Chalkhill Estate remains fairly tense and wary beneath the  surface calm following the stabbing and subsequent death of Arron Payne. Floral tributes have become a shrine to his memory outside the Medical Centre where he was stabbed.

Dean Gabay has been charged with Arron's murder and was due to appear at the Old Bailey today.

Detective Police Inspector Andy Manning appealed for information and was particularly keen to speak to a woman with a pushchair who was seen nearby.

He said. "Arron was young man with a steady job, from a good family and was in a committed relationship with his girlfriend. He had his whole life to look forward to."

Another NHS Brent Committee looking for representatives

I must admit I am losing track of the various committees and groups involved in the local NHS. The voting for Brent LINk closes tomorrow. It may eventually become Brent HealthWatch. I have now been sent the poster below asking for community representatives on the  NHS Brent Equality, Diversity and Engagement Committee (EDEN).  I suggest you ring to find out more.

Making hay while the sun shines in Fryent Country Park

I had the first class of the Autumn term in Fryent Country Park today.  The Year Ones were studying seeds and seed dispersal and eagerly searched for seeds and fruits in the meadows and hedgerows of the park and found them in great abundance, although the squirrels seemed to have had all the acorns.

They enjoyed watching a pair of kestrels hovering while hunting over Gotsford Hill and were excited by toads, tadpoles and newts as children have been for centuries.

Walking back across the fields from Kingsbury to Wembley I found hay making in progress.  Few realise that Fryent Country Park is a certified organic farm for hay which is sold off contributing to park expenses. Harvest was delayed by bad weather and sodden ground difficult for tractors to negotiate. Hay prices have gone up as a result but today's crop looked in pretty good shape.

Enjoy the pictures below and reflect on how fortunate we are to still have a little Middlesex countryside in our borough.

This is  a black and white photograph of my Aunt Muriel hay making at Bush Farm in 1942 complete with horse and cart. Today's baling machinery is much more advanced than her pitch fork but the hay left to dry before baling would be familiar.

Anyone wanting to book a class or club trip to Fryent Country Park should go to the Brent School Without Walls website HERE

Northwick Park accounts for 92% of all redirected A&E admissions

Doubts about Northwick Park Hospital  A&E Department's ability to cope now, let alone when other NW London A& E departments are closed have been reinforced by data published after a Freedom of Information request.

Between February and August 16th 2012, there were 49 requested redirections of patients to other hospitals. Of these 45 were from Northwick Park, usually to Central Middlesex which is of course ear-marked for closure. In addition Northwick Park transferred to Ealing, St Mary's, Hammersmith, West Middlesex and Hillingdon. 92% of all redirections were from Northwick Park. Hillingdon and West Middlesex had two planned redirections each. Central Middlesex none.

DCMS not to intervene in Brent library closures

Library campaigners will be disappointed to hear the the Department of Culture, Media and Sport has decided not to intervene in the Brent library closures.

The letter can be accessed below: