Propriety of Butt's conduct on double planning meetings questioned

Claims emerged over the weekend that Brent Council leader Muhammed Butt sought the agreement of his allies on Brent Planning Committee before timetabling two Planning Committee meetings this week ahead of the Labour Group AGM on Saturday.

A reader commented:

It is totally unreasonable to expect Planning Committee to be able consider properly two full agendas, involving major proposed developments, within the space of 48 hours!

Rumour has it that the Chair of Planning Committee, Sarah Marquis, objected to having two meetings so close together, but that the Leader of the Council went behind her back and persuaded some of the other Committee members to agree to it.

The question arises as to whether the Committee can make informed and robust decisions in the limited time available on proposals that will make an impact on Wembley for decades to come and have major repercussions for the country's national stadium.

As the Planning Committee is statutorily independent questions also arise over the propriety of Muhammed Butt's intervention.  I would think that the chair would be entitled to seek independent advice on whether the double meetings are reasonable and enable the Committee to cary out its statutory duties effectively and fairly.

The Members Code of Conduct and Planning Code of Practice are relevant LINK

Butt rounds up candidates for Saturday's election

Things were hotting up tonight in the Labour battle ahead of the AGM to be held on Saturday.  Muhammed Butt is said to be rounding up a field of candidates and it is alleged that one of the group said the nominees would exclude the 'old white men' of Brent Labour.

Cllr Butt is claimed to have approached Cllr Margaret McLennan as deputy leader and Cllr Amer Agha as chair of the Planning Committee.

The number of people on his list exceeds the number of posts available so there may have been some double offers. The names I have heard tonight may include some who would rather be on the other side but include Shama Tatler, Aslam Choudry, Sabina Khan, Krupesh Hirani, Wilhelmina Mitchell Murray, Ahmad Shahzad and Arshad Mahmood.

Roxanna Mashari seems to have aroused opposition from some of Butt's group who are alleged to have  described her as 'toxic'. Aslam Choudry and Muhammed Butt found themselves  mired in controversy last week over Facebook posts.  Cllr McLennan's failure to support residents over the  Byron Court school expansion and her lack of visibility has made her unpopular in her ward.  Cllr Agha is currently vice chair of Planning Committee and voted for the unpopular Twin Towers development which Sarah Marquis, the chair, opposed.

Cllr James Denselow as far as I have been able to ascertain is not one of Butt's choices.

On the wilder side I have heard suggestions that Butt may seek support from the Kenton Conservatives if he is unsure of a majority when the positions go to Full Council.

Marching Backwards: Putting the pressure on the government to act on climate change

Pavey challenges Butt for Brent Labour Group leadership

There has been little rest for Brent Labour councillors over the weekend following the news of likely contests for leadership at Saturday's Labour Group AGM.

Michael Pavey will be challenging Muhammed Butt for the leadership.  So far no job has emerged for Butt from Sadiq Khan, but intriguingly Butt's relatives seem to be pushing him as a possible successor in Khan's Tooting constituency.  George Galloway has hinted that he may stand in Tooting - what a combo!

Senior councillors rejected Butt's suggestion for deputy and I understand that a pliable pudding is standing.  Hopefully someone with more credibility will throw their hat into the ring

Sarah Marquis has been a well-informed and independent Chair of Planning, presiding over a committee of lesser talents. As Butt is a champion of Quintain and all its deeds he may push for someone more pliable in that role too.

Ruth Moher has been a low profile lead member for children and families and has frustrated many by her failure to take a firm position on forced academies.  Both Cllr Shama Tatler and Cllr 'Jumbo' Chan as teachers have a keen interest in education although there has been no confirmation either will challenge Moher for the role.

Cllr Eleanor Southwood has had to deal with Cllr Duffy's revelations over alleged Council incompetence at Environment and a contest between the two of them would be interesting.

Regeneration and housing are key areas,  particularly in the light of the GLA campaign and recent controversial regeneration projects, including South Kilburn, and there may be a challenge to Cllr Margaret McLennan based on a failure to stand up to developers on affordable housing provision.

There are a number of others who may come forward including the ambitious Cllr Roxanne Mashari and Cllr Sam Stopp. Stopp has recently made critical comments on the planning consultation procedures in the borough and called for more open and transparent dealings with residents. Matt Kelcher has probably been chair of Scrutiny for too short a period to face a challenge.

Overall however with 56 councillors, the majority of whom as far as the public are concerned are faceless, and because they don't speak at council meetings have little political form (apart from putting their hands up on command), it is hard to know how close Butt's critics are to garnering sufficient votes. 

Ex Cllr James Powney gives his account of the process on his blog LINK

Process in the Labour Group

It may be worth noting the due process in Group meetings, as they appear to have escaped Cllr Butt and possibly others.  Votes are held of all the paid up Labour councillors and no one else.  The vote is by secret ballot, and follows the rules known as "exhaustive ballot".  This means that where there are multiple candidates (as I imagine there would be if Cllr Pavey becomes leader as far as the Deputy Leader post goes), the candidate with the lowest number is elimated and a new vote taken, until somebody get 50% plus one of the votes.

The Group officers (such as Leader and Deputy Leader) are voted on by the whole group, as should other positions such as the Planning Chair and the members of the Executive.  This also applies to the new Deputy Mayor, but the Mayor post is normally taken by whoever was last year's deputy without an election. 

The Scrutiny positions are voted on by the non Executive members (i.e. excluding the Leader, Deputy Leader, Executive and (I think) the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Since all these votes are by secret ballot, they can be expected to take a long time and be unpredictable.  My past experience of such elections is that many councillors promise their votes to multiple candidates.  I take it from Cllr Butt's attempts to suspend one of his critics and other rumours I have heard, that he is far from confident of victory.

'You can gaze across to Wembley, if it wasn't for the towers in between' -'iconic' stadium views trashed

The Old Music Hall song LINK  had the verse:

'Just by clinging to the chimney,

You can gaze across to Wembley,

If it wasn't for the 'ouses in between.'

Now it is Quintain's speculative luxury tower blocks and private student accommodation blocks that are getting in the way of the views of Wembley Stadium.  When the new stadium was built the 'iconic views' were supposed to be preserved but Brent Council's Planning Department has done little to further this aim.

This can already be seen from Barn Hill:

And the views on Olympic Way from Wembley Park Station are closing in:

The current view from Chalkhill Park, which runs parallel to the Metropolitan and Jubilee lines, will be obscured by the  new development which is being discussed at planning on Thursday while Monday's application will put tower blocks in front of the stadium as viewed from White Horse Bridge.

Residents are not happy about this and the Football Association has put in objections. Martin Glen, Chief Executive of the Football Association wrote:

-->

The proposals which look to develop high rise blocks close to the stadium will severely damage the iconic view and status of the Stadium.

Whilst regeneration is vital, it needs to be balanced with Brent’s and the FA’s duty to protect the spirit of what is a great venue.

Wembley is a part of a national identity and positive celebrations of this should not merely be unhindered, but enhanced.

The aim of the FA’s objection is to retain the visual power of the stadium to help stimulate every aspect of life in Brent, retaining the emotional response Sir Norman Foster intended for the stadium

Brent Planners argue on 'Protected Views':
-->

Policy WEM 6 of the Wembley Area Action Plan sets out 13 protected views to the Stadium. The submitted assessment includes verified views from these locations with wire line drawings of the proposed buildings.

This shows that the proposed buildings do not intrude significantly into the space between the roof of the stadium and the arch within the majority of views. The view from the Welsh Harp Reservoir (protected view 5) shows that the proposed taller element of the building within plot E03 projects into the space between the roof of the stadium and the arch. However, it is considered that the dominance of the arch is maintained within this view.

The submission shows that elements of plots NE04 and NE05 project significantly into the space between the stadium roof and its arch when viewed from Chalkhill Park, and obscure the lower parts of the arch on one side. The majority of the arch is still visible, but the development reduces the amount of space that is visible between the roof and arch. Whilst the amount of sky visible below the arch is reduced significantly, the arch continues to be visible. Whilst this would not be considered to be appropriate within a primary approach to the stadium, such as along Olympic Way or from the White Horse Bridge, regard must be given the nature of the space from which it is viewed. Chalkhill Park is a local park within an urban locality and the majority of the arch continue to be visible. On balance, this is considered to be acceptable.

It is likely that the F.A. will attend either or both of the Planning Committees to try and stop Brent Council from trashing the national stadium

UPDATE

This morning a local resident sent the photograph above with this comment: Interesting article on the ever decreasing views of the stadium.

Couldn't work out how to add this photo to the comments, 115 Chalkhill Rd used to have unspoilt views of the stadium and arena, over the oadt few years, so many high rise buildings have been erected we can no longer see the arena and our view of the stadium is rapidly disappearing. The work on the old retail park will no doubt eclipse whatever view we have left of the stadium.

Government's backdown on forced academies welcome but not quite what it seems

Yesterday the government announced a modification of its forced academies policy.  It is not quite the u-turn that some called it on first sight. Forced academisation is still kept as an option and academisation of all schools remain a government aim.

It is clear that the change of policy is largely to appease the Tory shires who protested at the policy as well as those seeking to protect small rural schools. Non Tory LAs will remain a target and the new 'impossible' performance targets will be used to penalise 'under-performing' local authorities.
 
The government adds to its armoury the power to convert all schools in a local authority to academy status if 'it is clear that the local authority can no longer viably support its remaining schools because a critical mass of schools in that area has converted.'

In addition it can convert all schools if 'the local authority consistently fails to meet minimum performance threshold across its schools, demonstrating an ability to bring about meaningful school improvement.'

As with many government decisions it is not clear who will make the decisions on viability and performance but the continuing voluntary conversion of schools to academy status in some LAs, particularly where the government has cut funding and LA support is minimal, and forced conversion of schools in a category, will mean the academisation process will continue albeit at a slower pace until it reaches the trigger point for academisation of remaining LA schools.

The performance threshold will put pressure on local authorities, mainly Labour, in deprived areas and high mobility areas where funding is due to be cut. Even high performing schools, or those that do well taking into account contextual factors, will be caught if their LA is deemed to be failing overall.

As someone put it on Twitter yesterday: the government is closing one trap door but opening several new ones.

The Parents Defending Education Campaign said:

We have won a partial retreat - it is an important victory. But piecemeal academy conversion will continue unless parents and teachers fight every attempt to convert. It shows clearly that this government has lost the plot on education. The White Paper and other aspects of government policy remain deeply unpopular.

Now we know Nicky Morgan really does have a reverse gear, we should use this as an opportunity to launch an all out assault on the testing regime. No more SATS; No exam factories; No more funding cuts and good school place for every child.

It is clear that the campaign against academies and free schools and for the retention  of properly funded and democratically accountable local authorities must  continue.

This change of policy was a victory for parent campaigners, teachers, headteachers and councillors and we must learn form that unity to continue our campaign.

This is the DfE press release

The government is committed to ensuring every child has an excellent education which allows them to achieve their full potential. The reforms of the past 6 years have led to 1.4 million more children being taught in ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ schools. Central to this improvement has been the academy programme. 

The academy programme puts control of running schools in the hands of teachers and school leaders - the people who know best how to run their schools. That’s why the government is committed to every school becoming an academy. This system will allow us to tackle underperformance far more swiftly than in a local-authority-maintained system where many schools have been allowed to languish in failure for years. At the same time, it will allow our most successful and popular schools to expand their reach to even more children. 

Since launching our proposals in the education white paper, the government has listened to feedback from MPs, teachers, school leaders and parents. 

It is clear from those conversations that the impact academies have in transforming young people’s life chances is widely accepted and that more and more schools are keen to embrace academy status. 

As a result of these conversations, the government has decided, while reaffirming our continued determination to see all schools to become academies in the next 6 years, that it is not necessary to bring legislation to bring about blanket conversion of all schools to achieve this goal. 

The government will continue to require underperforming schools to convert to academy status where they can benefit from the support of a strong sponsor. One hundred and four directive academy orders have already been issued to underperforming schools in the last month since the new legislation came into force.

We will also continue to support ‘good’ schools to convert and to take the lead in supporting other schools as part of multi-academy trusts. In the last monthly figures 227 schools put in applications to convert, the highest monthly figure since the programme began, and we expect this rate to increase.

In addition, the government will bring forward legislation which will trigger conversion of all schools within a local authority in 2 specific circumstances: 

firstly, where it is clear that the local authority can no longer viably support its remaining schools because a critical mass of schools in that area has converted. Under this mechanism a local authority will also be able to request the Department for Education converts all of its remaining schools

secondly, where the local authority consistently fails to meet a minimum performance threshold across its schools, demonstrating an inability to bring about meaningful school improvement 

These measures will target those schools where the need to move to academy status is most pressing. For other high-performing schools in strong local authorities the choice of whether to convert will remain the decision of the individual schools and governing bodies in question.  
 

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said:

Making every school an academy is the best way to ensure every child, regardless of birth or background, has access to a world-class education.

I am today reaffirming our determination to see all schools to become academies. However, having listened to the feedback from Parliamentary colleagues and the education sector we will now change the path to reaching that goal.

By focusing our efforts on those schools most at risk of failing young people, and encouraging ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ schools to seize the opportunities of conversion, we will ensure the continued growth of the academy programme, empowering frontline heads and school leads, and transforming even more children’s education.

The government is also announcing a package of measures to guarantee the continued success of small rural schools. 

Hundreds of small rural schools that currently receive no top-up funding to address the unique pressures they face will benefit from landmark changes made to school ‘sparsity funding’. This means over 1,200 small rural schools will receive specific targeted support. For more than 700 of those schools, their local authority currently chooses not to provide the top up, but the new national funding formula will provide sparsity funding for every single one.

Alongside the existing statutory presumption against closure of rural schools, the government will go further, introducing a new ‘double lock’ so that when small rural schools convert to academy status both local and national government have to agree to a school closing before a decision can be made. 

No small successful schools will be forced to join a national academy chain - most small schools will choose to join multi-academy trusts made up of other local schools, though small sustainable schools will be able to convert alone if they wish. To support them there will be dedicated support from experts in the Department for Education to help primary schools through the process of conversion and a £10 million fund for small schools to secure expert support and advice.

The government has allocated £300 million that will be available to support schools to convert and, in particular, support sponsors to turn around failing schools. A further £300 million will support strong and effective multi-academy trusts to grow and improve. And, in recognition of the costs that local authorities and church dioceses face, funding will also be provided to them.

This funding comes on top of the government’s protection to the core schools budget which will be over £40 billion next year, including the pupil premium - funding worth £2.5 billion a year targeted at the most disadvantaged pupils. This is the highest-ever level of funding for schools of any government.

Help record real lives on May 12th to update Mass Observation

Reprinted from Lipstick Socialist blog HERE with permission. I have long been interested in Mass Observation and its attempt to record a People's History/  I hope some Wembley Matters readers will be able to contribute om May 12th. Many thanks to Lipstick Socialist.

History is dominated by the establishment. In books, television and radio the agenda is one of kings and queens, the First and Second World Wars, and generally the people with power. Where are the people who made this country a democracy? Where are the Levellers, the Chartists, the trade unionists and the socialists?  Where are the stories of the women in many campaigns? Even a woman such as Mary Quaile, who had important positions in her trade union, the local Trades Council, and on the national TUC Council has until recently been forgotten.

On 12 May  we can change this perception of working class history: you can write up your diary for the day and it can become part of the Mass Observation Archive. Are you standing on a picket line outside a Job Centre as part of  a campaign against sanctions? Are you writing a flyer to tell people about the latest cuts to the NHS? Are you a care assistant on a zero hour contract?  These are all important stories and need to be included in any history of 12 May.

Mass-Observation was a  social research organisation founded in 1937,  by an eclectic group of people including anthropologist Tom Harrisson, poet Charles Madge and filmmaker Humphrey Jennings. It was funded by themselves, with the occasional donation and used volunteer correspondents.

Their  aim was to record everyday life in this country through inviting 500 untrained volunteers to keep a diary or reply to questionnaires. The weird aspect of it was that they paid investigators to record peoples conversations at work, in the street, in pubs or at public events including meetings, sporting and religious events. You don’t really need to do this nowadays as so many people use the social media as a way of constantly recording what they are doing and how they feel at any moment of the day! But what is not recorded ( or maybe it is by the State) is the real life of activists, which is important to record and promote as a vital  aspect of our democracy.


On 12 May 1937 they asked people from across the UK to record everything they did from when they woke up in the morning to when they went to bed at night. This date was chosen because it was the day of George VI’s coronation. And that is why this year we need to submit diaries of real people to ensure that when people look back on 12 May 2016 it gives a view of the real lives of people in this country.

So how do you contribute?  Click on this link see

Democracy breaks out in Brent Labour as key positions contested

The Brent Labour Annual General Meeing  next Saturday will see elections for Leader, Deputy Leader and Cabinet positions I understand from well-informed sources.

This is part of the normal democratic process but takes place against the background of internal tensions that included Councillor Butt's attempt to select his own deputy.

Following the election the posts have to be confirmed by Full Council but that is usually certain given the Labour majority - unless the results are very close and susceptible to abstentions at Council.

These are the current positions and responsibilities:

Leader of the Council

Councillor Muhammed Butt

Responsible for:

• Community Planning and Partnership
• Strategic Regeneration
• Voluntary Sector
• West London Alliance
• Health and Wellbeing Board (chair)
• Mayor's Development Corporation
• Executive and Members Services
• Legal Services

Find out more about Cllr Muhammed Butt.

Deputy Leader

Councillor Michael Pavey

Responsible for:

• Finance
• Performance Management
• Complaints and FOI
• Council as Employer (HR)
• Equalities
• Procurement
• IT

Find out more about Cllr Michael Pavey.

Cabinet Member for Employment and Skills

Councillor Roxanne Mashari

Responsible for:

• Customer Access
• Skills
• Jobs and Employment
• Business and Enterprise
• Welfare
• Poverty
• London Living Wage Advocate

Find out more about Cllr Roxanne Mashari.

Cabinet Member for Environment

Councillor Eleanor Southwood

Responsible for:

• Environment
• Transport
• Public Realm
• Sustainability
• Highways
• Parking
• Transportation
• Street Lighting

Find out more about Cllr Eleanor Southwood.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People

Councillor Ruth Moher

Responsible for:

• Early Years
• Schools
• Special Education Needs
• Early Help
• Children's Social Care
• Youth Services
• Troubled Families

Find out more about Cllr Ruth Moher.

Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing

Councillor Krupesh Hirani

Responsible for:

• Adult Social Care
• Health and Wellbeing
• Public Health
• CCG

Find out more about Cllr Krupesh Hirani.

Cabinet Member for Housing and Development

Councillor Margaret McLennan

Responsible for:

• Housing
• Private Sector Housing
• Landlord licensing
• Planning
• Building Control
• Property and Asset Management
• Facilities Management
• Brent Housing Partnership (BHP)

Find out more about Cllr Margaret McLennan.

Cabinet member for Stronger Communities

Councillor James Denselow

Responsible for:

• Community Cohesion
• Community Safety
• Community Resilience
• Arts, Leisure and Sports
• Trading Standards
• Licensing
• Libraries
• Communications
• Registration and Nationality

Find out more about Cllr James Denselow.