Cllr Abdi's removal from Planning Committee raises possibility of political interference in the planning process

Planning Committees have a quasi-judicial role and are supposed to be free from interference from the political leadership of the Council once appointed and going about their job.

Questions have been raised a number of times about possible attempts to pressure members of the Committee to make decisions favoured by the political leadership but none so far has 'stuck'.

Events yesterday, when it became know during the afternoon that the leadership was seeking to remove Cllr Abdirazak Abdi from the Committee through an item on the Full Council Agenda, dismayed many in the Labour Party, not least members of the Kilburn Labour Party (Brent) and resulted in the letter from their officers published on this blog.

The Labour Group's pre-meeting before Full Council was very short so it is unlikely that the issue was properly debated there.

The item was brought forward on the agenda and discussed before some councillors had arrived at the meeting, including I understand Cllr Abdi's two ward councillor colleagues.  At the same time the live streaming of the meeting was unavailable and it is only now that I have been able to watch a recording of the item. (HERE watch from 15.00)
 
The changes were approved without a vote but then Cllr Abdi asked if he could read an email he had sent to Labour colleagues about the matter. After some discussion between the Mayor and senior officers (off-microphone but those with sharp hearing may be able to make it out) he was told he couldn't read out  the email but he was offered the chance to speak.

Cllr Abdi said:

I would just like to raise my concern because I am being removed from the Planning Committee and I believe I am being removed for the simple reason of voting against planning applications and I feel this is a detrimental decision to the residents of the great borough. I've only been on the Committee for two sessions and I feel that I've voted against sufficient applications that the leadership... (tape becomes inaudible at this point to me but you may be able to understand what is said - if you can please add as a comment below).

If Cllr Abdi has been removed because of the way he voted I would suggest that this does amount to political interference in the process - not just in Abdi's case but additionally in the form of a warning to other members of the committee that if they don't 'toe the line' they will also be removed.

Planning Committee members cannot be whipped but if the Leader informally makes his  views known and councillors know of the possible consequences of not voting the right way, then the public's confidence that Brent planning decisions are fair and transparent is undermined.

Wednesday's Global Warming meeting postponed

Kensal & Kilburn Better 2018 have postponed the meeting on 'Why aren't we talking/worrying/panicking more about global warning?' that was to be held on Wednesday July 11th because of the clash with England's Word Cup football game.

The organisers said:

As you will likely know, our event scheduled for 7pm on Wednesday 11 July is now a direct clash with England's first World Cup semi-final since 1990.  Although this is a relatively trivial matter compared with global warming and the future of human life on the planet, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone the event.  We want to be fair to our speakers (including Natalie Bennett who would be travelling down from Sheffield) and so we don't want to ask them to come along to address a much-diminished audience.  

We are looking for a new date and will be in touch as soon as possible.

Brent Council live streaming fails again

Brent Council seems beset by technical problems that recently have included its telephone system, parking booking system, planning portal and now the live streaming of Council meetings.

As Alexi points out the absence of a live webcast of yesterday's Full Council is detrimental to democracy. No warning of non-availability was given on the webcast portal on the Council's website and so far no apology given to residents.

LATE NEWS July 10th 16.50

The recording of the meeting is now available HERE

Brent Council eventually apologises:

  

New Alperton development exhibition Thursday July 12th

New extended plans are being put forward by developers for a site in Alperton next to the Grand Union Canal at the junction of Ealing Road and Bridgewater Road.

The site is now not just Alperton House (The Boat pub), 346 Ealing Road  but also the college and Topps Tiles next door (units 9-10 Abercorn Commercial Centre),

The exhibition is at Brent Play Association at Peppermint Point (next to the Sainsbury's Superstore) 4.30pm – 7.30pm Northwick Road, HA0 1LG.

Redrow Homes and Peabody have formed a partnership and promise reprovision of the pub/restaurant, a new canal side public space, new affordable homes, retail and workspaces.

Cllr Abdirazak loses his place on Brent Planning Committee

UPDATE Cllr Abdirazak Abdi WAS replaced on the Planning Committee by a vote of Brent Council last night. The item was moved up the Agenda and taken before his fellow Kilburn councillors arrived in the chamber.

Below posted before the Council Meeting

I understand that Brent Council's Labour Leader is set to remove Cllr Abdirazak Abdi from the Planning Committee at tonight's meeting of Brent Council.

Cllr Abdi has proved to have a mind of his own on the Committee and voted against several planning applications.  Councillors on the Committee are of course supposed to be independent of political decisions but unfortunately Abdirazak's independence appears to have displeased 'The Leader', who is quoting the need to find committeee places for the recently elected Willesden Green councillors as the pretext for the removal.
 
As several Labour councillors hold a number of committeee positions this does not hold much water. Abdi is only on one committee.

Butt's decision has to be ratified by this afternoon's  Labour Group meeting which precedes Full Council.

Cllr Andi is due to be replaced by Cllr Elliot Chappel, newly elected for Willesden Green. LINK

Cllr Abdirazak Abdi represents Kilburn ward where Cllr Duffy was previously councillor. Duffy famously stood up to be counted over a number of issues including Paddington Cemetery asbestos and the Council's waste policy.

ADDITION

The Secretary of the Kilburn (Brent) branch of the Hampstead and Kilburn CLP has now written to Brent Labour Group Executive members about the issue:

To executive members, Brent Labour Group

As secretary of Kilburn (Brent) Labour Party branch, I'm appalled to hear that Councillor Abdi Abdirazak is being removed from his position on the planning committee of Brent Council, and at such short notice that it will be ratified at the Council meeting this evening.

Although the pretext appears to be to make room for the newly elected Willesden Green Councillors, this is clearly not the case, since Abdi is only on one committee whereas there are councillors on several who could have made way.

It is clear that Abdi is being "punished" for voting "the wrong way" on the planning committee. Abdi reported to our branch last week on his work on planning committee and had the support of the branch.

On behalf of the branch, I ask that you withdraw this proposal.

We will be discussing this at our Branch EC meeting and will decide what further action needs to be taken; I would therefore welcome an early reply so that this can be taken into account.

Council estate residents may have to pay £85 annual parking charge

Brent Housing Scrutiny Committee will discuss a report at its June 12th meeting on the possible introduction of off-street parking controls on its estates which would mean residents paying £85 rather than the current £10 annual charge.

The report says controls are need because of parking issues on many of its estates and has chosen five of the worst affected for a consultation. They are:

Alexander Court
Landua House
Joules House
Windmill Court
Seymour Court

The charge has been aligned with the current Controlled Parking Zone charge of £85 but would not be subject to the complex arrangements for that charge.

During consultation tenats, lease holders and owner occupiers on the estates will be asked to choose from:

• Preferred type of parking control
• Preferred hours of control
• Areas that wil be included
• No parking controls

If  approved the arrangements would be implemented in early April next year.

Brent Council claims support for 'park meadows' policy as Lorber escalates complaint

Responding to a complaint  by Paul Lorber regarding Brent Council’s policy of not mowing grass in large sections of the borough’s parks Chris Whyte, Operational Director of Environmental Services, has written justifying the policy:

Dear Paul,

I am sorry you feel the council’s parks are no longer accessible to the general public.

That’s not intended. We have committed to retaining and cutting recreational space in all our parks. However, the extent of that must now be dependent on the cost and the resources that are available. That is a very real constraint, I’m afraid.

The council must now manage all its larger parks in this way. It is necessary because it enables the council to better prioritise its funds. In addition, it means a different habitat is created in our parks, which is intended to be a positive.

It’s a shame you reject this approach; there are other ‘Friends of’ groups who see it as a positive. It may be seen as an untidy cost cutting exercise, but this group have asked that it is retained and that we cut once a year as intended, providing them with the cut grass which they can then use for their environmental project work. They’ve also kindly provided a list of benefits they say the long grass will bring to their park. I’ve attached it so you can get a sense of their enthusiasm.

They’re clear – ‘grass of differing heights and maintenance levels provides a greater variety of habitats for wildlife and greatly increases the bio-diversity of the park’. We’re hopeful these benefits will start to become more obvious over time.

There is a three-way balance to be struck here.

Maintaining access for recreational use which we do by still cutting the popular areas, managing the operation within the budget that is still available, and creating new and vital urban habitats for wildlife. That’s what is taking effect at Barham and the other Brent parks. The meadows will be an important way of trying to protect native species of wildflowers, as well as the insects and birds that feed on them. In recent years, many populations of bees and other pollinators have been declining significantly. This has been seen globally as a threat to biodiversity, long-term food production and ultimately human health.

I am aware the visual impact will take some getting used to but we see this approach as being much more vital than simply and relentlessly cutting the grass in a way that provides no ecological value.

You mentioned separately you’d like the matter discussed at a forthcoming [Barham] Trust meeting. That can happen. Not least, we would welcome the opportunity to sell the benefits and to get your support.

Lorber has replied asking for his complaint to be moved to the next stage of the Council’s Complaints Procedure:

For the avoidance of doubt I now wish to have my complaint pursued to the next stage.

In considering my complaint you should refer to the Brent Borough Plan 2015 - 19 which makes numerous references to the importance of local Parks and gives the promises that they will be well cared and looked after.

This promise has been broken in the case of Barham Park. The Park lost its Green Flag status some time back because of previioys decisions. The well regarded annual planting which brought a lot of colour to part of the Park ceased many years ago. Shrubs are neglected and poorly maintained by the contractors - they are hacked rather than properly probed.

The latest decision not to cut the grass in large parts of the Park has made the large areas unusable for public recreation and created no go areas.

The condition of these neglected areas in this hot weather is a potential fire hazard. I doubt that a risk assessment has been carried out and if by chance it has perhaps you can provide a copy.

By copy the officers involved with the preparation of the last borough plan can perhaps provide a definition of ‘well cared for parks’ and explain what was/is in their view the purpose a Park in the urban environment and what the disadvantages are of creating large no go areas for the Public.

If by chance you wish my complaint to be withdrawn than please arrange for the large areas of the uncut grass to be cut and for the grass cutting to be fully removed.

Saying 'No' to Trump is not enough - we need alternatives

Shaka Lish of Brent Green Party and Greens of Colour, spoke yesterday at Brent Stands Up to Trump! a meeting called to publicise the demonstrations on July 13th and 14th. The meeting was supported by Brent Central Labour Party, Brent Stand Up to Racism and Brent Stop the War. After hearing from panelists those at the meeting organised leafleting throughout the borough to publicise the demonstrations.