Brent Council settles Employment Tribunal compensation out of court

Ten minutes before the Employment Tribunal remedy hearing was due to start at Watford Tribunal on Wednesday  Brent Council settled with Rosemarie Clarke's legal team out of court.

Although details are subject to a Confidentiality Agreement an award would normally cover legal costs and loss of earnings.

This marks almost the last chapter in the saga with the main protagonists including Cara Davani, Andy Potts, Fiona Ledden and Christine Gilbert no longer employed by Brent Council.

Muhammed Butt, a stout defender of Cara Davani, remains in post and of course Philip Grant's two questions remain unanswered.

Brent Council to act on pedestrian safety in Forty Lane traffic corridor

Bird's Eye view of the two junctions (photo taken before Asda petrol station was constructed)

Local residents,  have been in contact with Brent Council to express concern about pedestrian safety at the Bridge Road/Forty Avenue/Barnhill junction and the junction of Forty Lane/Kings Drive and the Asda petrol station and car park. LINK

Children from The Ark Aademy (Primary and Secondary), Michaela Secondary, Lycee de Londres (Primary and Secondary) and Chalkhill Primary all use these crossings.

Brent Council has now sent this response:

Thank you for contacting us with your concerns about pedestrian safety at the junction of Kings Drive and Forty Lane.

I can assure you that pedestrian safety, particularly for vulnerable pedestrians such as children, is a high priority and we are active in introducing road safety measures for the benefit of all road users. Funding has been prioritised for road safety and accessibility improvements to the Forty Lane Corridor between Bridge Road and The Paddocks through our 2016/17 Local Implementation Plan (LIP) submission. A transport study is currently in progress to develop designs to improve pedestrian accessibility and safety, and congestion along this corridor with improvements to the Forty Lane/ Forty Avenue/ Bridge Road / Barnhill signal junction envisaged to commence from Summer 2016, subject to consultation. 

I acknowledge the need for immediate action to discourage motorists contravening the traffic regulations at the junction of Kings Drive and Forty Lane. We shall therefore review the existing signage and road markings to improve compliance and this will include the introduction of camera enforcement signs along with increased enforcement during peak hours to target habitual offenders.

Regards,

Sandor Fazekas
Project Development Manager
Transportation
Community Services

Extract from LIP report to be discussed at the Brent Cabinet Meeting on Monday. Child pedestrian traffic has increased considerably since April 2012 with the opening of new schools and expansion in the immediate vicinity.

A very unpleasant Lidl surprise for local customer

A Chalkhill resident has complained to Lidl customer services after what he claims was an unjust and humiliating experience at the supermarket’s branch in Blackbird Hill, Kingsbury.

A very unpleasant surprise.

Early on Monday morning a  member of staff approached A and accused him of shoplifting. No attempt was made to search A or say what evidence existed to prove the allegation.  The incident took place in front of the public and a checkout assistant joined in saying that A was ‘always shoplifting’ although there had been no previous incident or allegation against A who is a regular customer.

The incident caused A great distress and brought on a fit of nervous tremors in the store. He says that a proper process should have been followed in which the police would be called and video tape or witness statements sought and his person searched before a charge was brought.  This would have given him the opportunity to defend himself.

Instead he was addressed in what he says was ‘ a very aggressive and arrogant manner’ and told that he had been shoplifting and must leave the store or the police would be called.

A, who says he feels a ‘strong sense of injustice’, wants local people to be warned by what happened to him and is seeking an apology from Lidl.

Lidl Press Office have not responded to a request for their reaction.

Rugby World Cup disruption in Wembley on Sunday

New Zealand play Argentina in the Rugby World Cup on Sunday afternoon (k.o 16.45) and there will be some road closures in the Wembley Park area,  Full transport details HERE

Pensioners fight back: Hands Off Universal Benefits!

The National Pensioners Convention is campaigning to preserve universal benefits in the context of explaining that older people rather than a 'burden on society' make a positive contribution.

CAMPAIGN TO DEFEND UNIVERSAL PENSIONER BENEFITS SUCH AS THE BUS PASS AND WINTER FUEL ALLOWANCE. SIGN THE PETITION HERE

The NPC’s Fair Care campaign will raise the arguments in favour of a National Care Service funded through general taxation, like the NHS. The campaign will also call for improved standards, better training and pay for care staff and the introduction of a Dignity Code to give rights to all older people in receipt of care. 

Get involved in the NPC’s ongoing Rights in Retirement Campaign for decent state pensions, proper care and an end to fuel poverty.

Sign up to receive our free monthly newsletter by sending your email address to info@npcuk.org.

You can also follow the NPC on Twitter @NPCUK or find your nearest NPC  regional group by following this link.

The Convention has published a guide to the new pension arrangements. The order form is here:

Now Wembley Central development up for sale

St Modwen has announced that it is putting its Wembley Central development up for sale. This follows Quintain's £700m sale of Wembley Park to US private finance firm Lone Star.

The Wembley Central sale is much smaller with an  expected price in excess of £37.5m for a project with 118,000 square feet of retail space, a 24 hr car park and Travel Lodge hotel. 273 new housing units have been built at Wembley Central.

The sale is being handled by Kitchen LaFrenais Morgan LINK

Copland/Elvin: Onward and Upward?

Guest blog from  local school chaplain Elvin Bishop

The benefits of Tory education policy (ably assisted by Cllrs Pavey and Butt) are taking time to become apparent at one local school, as these figures appear to show:

2012: Copland 5 A*-C GCSEs including English and Maths                 40%

2013: Copland 5 A*-C GCSEs including English and Maths                  43%

2014: Copland 5 A*-C GCSEs including English and Maths                  46%

September2014 and Forced Academisation takes place against the wishes of parents, students and staff but backed by Michaels Gove and Pavey and Leader Mo Butt. Copland becomes Ark Elvin Academy.

2015: Copland 5 A*-C GCSEs including English and Maths                    34%*

*figure from Ark Elvin website

Still, as Jose Mourinho probably  said to Roman Abramovich on Sunday, ‘early days’.

Brent recommends Thames21 to take over Welsh Harp Education Centre

One of the Centre ponds that has become overgrown and dried out due to lack of maintenance over the summer

The Cabinet will consider a recommendation that the charity Thames21 takes over the lease of the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre at its meeting on September 21st. They also recommend that Thames21 talk to the other bidder, Careys, about the possibility of forming a partnership to run the Centre.

Local schools have been uncertain about the future of the Centre and normally school visits would have been starting next week.  The report LINK suggests that visits will start again in October but that seems a little optimistic given what needs to be put in place before children attend.

The report bases its recommendation on the bid evaluation:

Based on the evaluation, the recommendation is to proceed with the Thames 21 application. Thames 21 is an experienced environmental education organisation with a strong track record of delivering effective, community volunteering, engagement and educational events and activities to local communities promoting environmental awareness. The charity delivers practical and engaging environmental activities that teach young people about the need to care for their natural environment. As well as the educational work, Thames 21 looks to connect local people and communities with their local environment enabling a stronger sense of community ownership. With an existing environmental education programme in place, in addition to an established centre at the WHEEC, Thames 21 will transform the way environmental education activities are already currently being delivered and will make a positive difference

 However there are risks involved:

.        It is noteworthy that there are risks associated with the Thames 21 application. Most prominent is the lack of a full business plan., The submitted application noted the following risks: 
       The current income is not sufficient to support the expenditure or running the service. 

       The risk of the education centre shutting down reduces demand next year.
       That Thames 21 is unsuccessful with various funding applications to 
develop the centre to its full potential. 

       The cost of upgrading the infrastructure of the centre is significantly higher 
then envisaged. 

       The running costs of the centre are significantly higher then envisaged. 


.        The following mitigation plan is proposed by Thames 21 with outcomes reviewed at the year end self assessment process as detailed in the CAT policy: 
       To inspect financial records for the centre. 

       To contact all schools who have used the centre previously to ensure they 
are aware that the centre will be remaining open. Use current staff knowledge and relationships to build links with schools/ users. Attend School Heads meetings within Brent and surrounding boroughs to promote the centre. 

       To use Thames 21 experience, expertise and contacts for successful funding applications.
       To undertake inspections of the site (infrastructure) and development of a costed business plan and to develop alternative funding sources. 

       To undertake inspections of the site (running costs) and develop a costed business plan and to develop alternative funding sources.    

Next steps 

A proposed programme is set out below (proposed dates may be subject to change):

1.     Welsh Harp was consecrated in the 1950’s as the original proposal was that the site would at some stage become a graveyard. This creates complexities that will need to be resolved before the letting can take place and expert advice is being sought. 


2.     Heads of terms have been issued – subject to Cabinet and contract - on 21 August 2015. 


3.     On receipt of the signed heads of terms the draft CAT lease will be issued by 1 September 2015 – subject to Cabinet approval. 


4.     Cabinet consideration - 21 September 2015. 


5.     Thames 21 to open the WHEEC by October 2015 


The consecrated land issue has  previously been highlighted on this blog:  Kingsbury Lawn Cemetery LINK