Kilburn Labour Party is standing up for democracy on behalf of local people

There was a pretty astonishing letter in last week's Brent and Kilburn Times. It came from Paul Scott, Secretary of the Kilburn (Brent) Labour Party and was about the sacking of Cllr Abdirazak Abdi, a Kilburn Labour Councillor, from the Brent Planning Committee.

Scott pulled no punches:

Cllr Abdi Abdirazak, a newly-elected Kilburn councillor, was sacked from Brent Planning Committee on July 9 by the Brent council leader (“Sacked for voting the wrong way”).

Cllr Abdi and the Kilburn Labour Party believe this happened because he “voted the wrong way” on a number of planning applications, but our attempts to find out more have failed because the council leader Cllr Muhammed Butt has refused to answer questions at local meetings, and has so far not responded to my invitation to discuss the background.

Instead he has ducked, dived and backtracked (at one point asserting that Cllr Abdi was on another committee – not true).

The bigger issue here is not how one council leader can avoid accountability, but about ensuring Brent’s committee appointments are transparent and accountable to the electorate.

If an elected councillor, representing local residents can be removed from a committee against his will and with no satisfactory explanation, how can we be sure this isn’t how many our Brent committees are managed – with a disregard for accountability and due process?

Clearly the whole Brent committee system needs a close look – this latest incident is worrying for local democracy.

I warned before the local election that Brent was in danger of becoming a 'one party state' with Cllr Butt gathering even more power to himself.  His antipathy towards Kilburn showed itself in his dealings with Cllr John Duffy who asked too many well-researched awkward questions about the running of the council's waste services and Cllr Butt's dealing with developers and he has been impatient with Labour Party members who lived on South Kilburn Estate who pursued issues over the regeneration and in particular the Council's decision to persuade HS2 to locate a vent shaft next to housing and a primary school, rather than on more suitable land next to Queens Park station.

Although Paul Scott says the bigger issue is not how one council leader can avoid accountability,  his description of Cllr Butt's ducking, diving and backtracking is exactly what Brent residents have encountered, particularly notable in his dealings with the Stonebridge community over the closure of Stonebridge Adventure Playground.

Butt looked unassailable after his crushing of other parties at the Council election  and it is to the credit of Kilburn Labour Party that there are at least some members who are prepared to talk truth to power.  They deserve our support whether we belong to another political party or are not a member of any. 

In the absence of any effective opposition on the Council they are standing up for us.



 

Public Inquiry to be held after Harrow School appeal planning refusal for new sports building

Image from Harrow Hill Trust

The Planning Inspectorate today announced that following an appeal by Harrow School a three day Inquiry will be held into the school's plans for demolition of some existing buildings and the building of new sports and science buildings in the school grounds.

The plans were contested by the public and turned down by Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor using his powers under the Town and Country Planning Act to direct Harrow Council to refuse planning permission.

Mayor Khan said that the proposed footprint and location of the proposed sports building would result in unacceptable sprawl of inappropriate development on Metropolitan Open Land.

Those  contesting the appeal have until October 1st to make a submission to the Planning Inspectorate but are currently handicapped because Harrow School's grounds for appeal have not yet been published on the Harrow Council website.

Planning Inspectorate letter below. Click bottom right for full size version.

Consultation opens on new ward boundaries for Brent with 6 fewer councillors

From the Local Government Boundary Commission

LINK TO CONSULTATION PORTAL

Today is the start of a 10-week public consultation on proposals for new council wards and ward boundaries for Brent Council. 

Our consultation will close on 5 November 2018. 

After we have considered all representations made to us during this consultation, we intend to publish draft recommendations in January 2019. 

We will then hold a further period of consultation on our draft recommendations. Our final recommendations are expected to be published in May 2019. 

The new electoral arrangements will come into effect at the local elections in May 2022.

If you represent a local organisation or community group in Brent, please pass this message on to your members or anyone who you think might be interested in the review. You can share the message by email or through social media by using the buttons at the bottom right of the page.

What is an electoral review?

Our electoral review will recommend new electoral arrangements for Brent Council. We will propose:

• the total number of councillors elected to the council in the future;
• the number of wards;
• the number of councillors representing each ward;
• ward boundaries; and
• the names of wards.

How to get involved

This is a public consultation and we welcome views from individuals and organisations across Brent on where they think new ward boundaries should be drawn.

We are minded to recommend that 57 councillors should be elected to Brent Council in the future. 

This is 6 fewer than the current number of councillors. 

We are now inviting proposals to help us draw up a pattern of wards to accommodate 57 councillors.

In drawing up new electoral wards, we must balance three legal criteria, namely:

• to deliver electoral equality: where each councillor represents roughly the same number of electors as others across the borough;
• that the pattern of wards should, as far as possible, reflect the interests and identities of local communities;
• that the electoral arrangements should provide for effective and convenient local government.

We will treat all submissions equally, and judge each case on its merits and against the legal criteria. 

If you wish to put forward a view, we would also urge you to ensure that evidence supports your submission. 

For example, if you wish to argue that two areas should be included in the same electoral ward, make sure you tell us why they should be together, providing evidence about community facilities, ties, organisations, and amenities, rather than simply asserting that they belong together.

There is more advice on our website about how you can get involved in the consultation. 

Our website features technical guidance that explains the process and our policies, as well as guidance on how to take part in each part of the process. 

We have also set up a webpage dedicated to the review of Brent Council, where you can find all the relevant information.

You can also access interactive maps of the current ward boundaries across Brent on our specialist consultation portal. The portal also allows you to draw your own boundaries, mark areas of interest on the map and upload documents directly to the site. 

In drawing up new boundaries, the Commission aims to deliver electoral equality for voters in council elections so that each councillor represents roughly the same number of voters. The review also aims to ensure that the new council wards reflect, as far as possible, the interests and identities of communities across Brent.

Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said: “We are asking local people and organisations to help us draw up new wards for Brent. As we develop the recommendations, we will take into account local community identities as well as ensuring electoral equality for voters.

“If you have a view about which communities or neighbourhoods should be part of the same council ward, then we want to hear from you. And if you think a road, river or railway makes for a strong boundary between communities in your part off Brent, then this consultation is for you.

“If you’re interested in the way the borough is run, just log on to our website to explore our interactive maps and have your say.

“Your views will make a difference. 

“We will carefully consider all evidence that is provided during this phase of the review, whoever it is from and whether it applies to the whole of Brent or just a small part of the borough.

“Residents will then have a further chance to have their say after we publish our draft recommendations in January 2019.”

Local people have until 5 November 2018 to submit their views.

Promote the review in your area with our promotional poster

Shaka Lish speaks on 'War and the Environment' - September 10th

Brent Stop the War

The next meeting of Brent Stop the War will take place on 

 Monday,10^th September at 7.30pm

At: Brent Trades Hall (London Apollo Club) 375 High Rd, Willesden, NW10 2JR

[It’s very close to Willesden Bus Garage, buses 6,52,98,226,260,266,302,460, and just five minutes’ walk from Dollis Hill Jubilee Line station]

                       War & the Environment    

Speaker: Shaka Lish, Activist, Brent Green Party and Green Party candidate.

Headstone Village Show Fun on August Bank Holiday

Nothing says bank holiday like a magnificent village fair – especially in the beautiful historic grounds of Headstone Manor & Museum! This August Bank Holiday you are cordially invited to the great annual Headstone Village Show – guaranteed to make the holiday unforgettable for the whole family!

Headstone Village show welcomes back Harrow in LEAF to present their 14th Annual Horticultural & Craft Show along with Harrow Beekeepers. Explore the show’s diverse and remarkable entries, culminating in an exciting award ceremony to round off the day.
Wonder across the beautiful grounds of Headstone Manor and discover an array of brilliant FREE entertainment for the whole family such as a magic show, children’s circus workshop, a classic car show, a petting farm, fairground games, live music and donkey riding! There really is something for everyone!

Nurture your creativity with a variety of artisan arts and craft stalls, face painting and FREEcraft activities for children! If after all the excitement you find yourself a little peckish be sure to make the most of the delicious food and drink available including (new for 2018) a fully stocked bar of summery beers, ciders and wines.

So make this August Bank Holiday the best yet and head down to Headstone Manor & Museum for a day of unforgettable FUN!

Adults: £3.50, Children (Aged 4 – 12): £2.00, Under 4s: FREE, Family (2 adults, 2 children OR 1 adult, 3 children): £9.00. FREE PARKING

Local residents penalised on Wembley Event days

As locals know it is pretty hard getting around the borough on Wembley Event Days with over-crowded public transport, traffic jams, curtailed bus routes and parking restrictions. Many give up moving around the area to go about their normal business, shopping, visting relatives or attending local events.

Now it appears to have got harder with Brent Council refusing Barham Community Library, staffed by volunteers,  Event Day parking permits for library events and community lettings that happen to take place on event days.

Paul Lorber asked for what he thought would be routine parking permits for the library and received this reponse from Brent Council:

After consulting our 2015 parking strategy document which is available online at https://www.brent.gov.uk/media/16403337/parking-strategy-2015.pdf, I can confirm that we are unable to issue the dispensations that you have requested. I have attached a copy of this strategy for your convenience. 

I draw your attention to article 3.120, titled “Places of worship and community centres”. therein it states;

“Many places of worship are situated in residential areas. People often use their cars to travel to worship or to attend related community activities, and this can sometimes cause   congestion and/or conflict with the parking needs of local residents and businesses. With the exception of event-day place of worship permits in Wembley (only premises that are not in a CPZ are eligible), no special on-street parking provision is made for places of worship and community centres.”

I believe that this article precludes the library from any issuance of dispensations, or any other special on-street parking provision.  

I have reviewed the public transport options available around the library, I note.

·      Sudbury Town Station is 0.2 miles away (five minute walk) serving the Piccadilly line.

·      Sudbury and Harrow Road Station is 0.3 miles away (6 minute walk) serving the Chiltern Line on the National Rail.

·      Wembley Central Station is 0.7 miles away (14 minute walk) serving the London Overground (Watford DC line), the Bakerloo line and the National Rail serving the London and North-Western Railway and Southern lines.

·      A bus stop serving the 18, 92, 182, 204 & H17 routes is 300ft north-west of the library entrance.

I would encourage visitors to make use of the readily available public transport, as well as walking and cycling, our published strategy seeks to reduce trips by cars throughout the Borough.

I understand that this may not have been the response you were expecting. However, we have a published strategy to seek to achieve a balance between the needs of residents to park, access to local employment and local retail and service providers in addition to the reduction of car trips. 

John Wild

Contract Operations Manager

Lorber challenged Wild in his response:

Dear Mr Wild

Thank you for your email.

Firstly I consider it inappropriate for anyone from Brent Council to recommend cycling to anyone until such time as the local roads are repaired. As things state many roads are in such a poor state of repair that they are death traps for cyclists.

Barham Community Library has now been open for almost 2 years and up to now all our requests for permits for events at our Library have been met irrespective of the out of touch policy/document you refer to.

What has suddenly changed?

I am concerned because our Library is attended by many older and disabled people who are often brought by others. Without receiving a lift from a relative or friend who then needs to park locally that person would not be able to come.

This policy is therefore depriving elderly and disabled people for accessing our Library on Event days and preventing us to organise events for our local community for many weekends during the year. How does this approach help to meet the other Council objective to tackle loneliness?

If the intention is for Brent Council and its officers to deprive community facilities the ability to function or for disabled or elderly people to be disadvantaged then I suggest that you clearly state this intent and publicise it - rather than simply hide behind a document which no one is aware of.

Whenever the issue of the Wembley Event Zone was discussed officers and leading councillors reassured residents and organisations that they could always apply for Event Day permits. I cannot recall anyone stating that they were restricted to funerals and weddings only and recall summer BBQs, birthday parties being mentioned too.

The fact that up to now our requests for permits were always granted proves that the above approach was followed up to now. Hence my question - what has changed and who issued instructions to change the approach.

I am copying these exchanges to the Chief Executive so that she can sort out this mess and stop local people and local organisations being disadvantaged in this appalling way just to accommodate Wembley Stadium and their growing number of events.

Regards

Paul Lorber

Lorber told Wembley Matters:

We have been asking for permits regularly and until recently received them for days when the Library was open, or for the Tamil School or even for lets to other groups or individuals for a social/party. One group who regularly uses us for small social gatherings are the  Caribbean Muslim Group made up mostly of older people. They usually finish around 10:30pm and feel safer to go by car with their family. Without the ability to park for their elders or disabled people they will simply give up.

A return bus ride costs £3 - and most people are unlikely to want to spend so much to simply come to a library.

We are not talking of a vast numbers of people and lack of parking spaces or congestion is not an issue for us as Barham Park is some way from the Stadium.

Tge trouble is that the rules are being imposed and enforced by people who do not live here and do not appreciate  the damage their draconian restrictions cause for local people and voluntary groups.

Surely it is wrong that the local council that is supposed to represent the interests of its residents has decided to restrict their lives on event days?

Tribute to Mick Woods - Fighter and Friend

Mick Woods 28.12.54-17.7.18 

Guest post by Pete Firmin

My close friend and comrade Mick Woods has died at the early age of 64.

Born near Southend, Mick lived in Manchester and London, before settling in Denmark. Or, as his Facebook page says “too many places to mention”.

Mick also moved around a bit between political organisations on the left. But he preferred action to sitting in meetings. Whether in support of the 84-85 miners’ strike, fighting fascists on the streets or campaigning against the Poll Tax, Mick was always in the front line.

I well remember the time when, after a period on the dole, we both got new jobs on the same day, me on the railways, Mick with a small engineering firm. Within 2 days we were both on strike. But Mick never got his job back, whereas the NUR strike was over the same week.

Mick was elected a Labour Councillor for Carlton (now part of Kilburn) ward in Brent in 1986 as part of a fightback by the left in local government. He and other councillors refused to vote for cuts and were “disciplined” for their principles.

In 1993, Workers’ Aid was formed to support the fight to keep Bosnia multinational at a time when it was under siege from the Serbian army. Mick volunteered to drive convoys of aid to the embattled miners of Tuzla in Bosnia. In all, Mick drove to Tuzla 25 times. At his funeral in Aarhus, his courage as a convoy leader was emphasised.

During this time, Mick met Lone. He moved to Denmark and they had a daughter, Ina. Their relationship did not last but Mick was immensely proud, in his understated way, of how Ina developed into a proudly independent politically active woman. It was a sad irony he was not able to hear that she had addressed the final rally of the Fourth International youth camp in Denmark on behalf of the host delegation just 10 days after his death.

Mick kept in touch with some friends in Britain both on line and through mutual visits.

Since Mick’s death, many tributes have been paid; remembering his love of birdwatching, poetry and food as well as his militant activity and his extensive knowledge of politics and history. Many remember Mick’s generosity, which I can vouch for, having slept on the floor of his one bed Council flat when I was homeless. John McDonnell recalls fondly Mick working with him at the Greater London Council.

Always suffering health issues – with psoriasis often covering his whole body – recently Mick developed sclerotic arteries, which eventually led to both his legs being amputated. He became severely depressed and eventually died in hospital.

A memorial event for Mick will take place in London on Friday September 7^th. More details can be got from me via Labour Briefing.

Mick would have echoed the words of Joe Hill, “Don’t waste any time in mourning. Organize.”

The wake/memorial gathering for Mick Woods will be on

Friday 7^th September, 7-10 p.m.

At the Marian Community Centre, 1 Stafford Road, London NW6 5RS 

There will be (Indian finger) food and a pay bar (including soft drinks)

As well as the opportunity to socialise, meet old friends, chat about memories of Mick, the intention is to have an open mic where those who want to can share memories of Mick with everyone.

Unfortunately, some who would like to won’t be able to make this date. This would be inevitable whatever the date. If you can’t make it, but would like memories of Mick to be read out please either pass them to a friend who you know is coming, or email them to me. If you haven't already, you can also post memories of Mick in the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/225855551393330/

Please let me know if you are coming, so we can have an idea of numbers to cater for.

If you have questions, please contact me, petefirmin@btinternet.com

For those who don’t know, the Marian Centre is where Carlton branch Labour Party held its meetings during the period when Mick was a local Councillor, and is directly opposite Austen House, the tower block where Mick lived for a period.

There will be a box for voluntary donations to cover costs on the night.