Opinions wanted: How have changes in Wembley since the building of the new stadium affected you?

Hello Wembley Matters readers,

 

I’m an Architecture student at the University of Huddersfield currently carrying out a research project into how the Wembley area has changed since the new Wembley Stadium has opened and how this has affected the residents. I would like to gather Brent residents' opinions on the changes in the Wembley area over the past 13 years so I would be grateful if any residents could spare a few moments to fill out the questionnaire below, it shouldn’t take any longer than 10-15 minutes. 

 

Questionnaire LINK

Thank you,

Matthew

No 'peace of mind' regarding high rise fire safety for disabled resident as Brent Council lights up for International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Brent Civic Centre lit up  for International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2020 (Kilburn Times)

Brent's symbolic gesture for International Day Day of Persons with Disabilities 2020 LINK has left a local resident with disabilities feeling jaundiced as his repeated efforts to persuade housing officers and councillors that he needs rehousing because of his mobility and hearing disabililities, have failed to elicit positive action.

He feels trapped and fearful.

The resident is currently housed on an upper floor of a South Kilburn estate tower block that is scheduled for demolition. This means that fire safety measures such as sprinklers have not been installed. He has requested rehousing at a lower level.

The resident, whose case has been covered before on Wembley Matters LINK, said:

In yesterday's Cabinet Agenda papers on Council assets  they said "All our high-rises are safe and we are bringing in additional measures to reassure our vulnerable tenants".

 

But I do not feel safe, or reassured as there is still only one escape route in my block and if a fire was to start on this escape routebelow me. I feel I could be trapped, or my mobility issues may affect other residents who would also be in a hurry to escape the building.

 

The Cabinet paper said "Our Fire Safety works provide peace of mind for all our resident's" but I do not have any 'peace of mind because of my mobility issues if I need to evacuate my tower block by the only escape route which my building has.

 

Could you through Wembley Matters ask the Council what  I  and possibly other disabled residents in a similar situation  can do to get 'the peace of mind' that they refer to?

 

Just to add, a disabled resident at Grenfell was told before the fire, that she had nothing to worry about, as the building was safe and this is what Brent Council are saying about all their own high-rises -they are completely safe.

 

The resident pointed out that the latest Brent Council Fire Safety Policy document LINK   had nothing to say about evacuating from a high rise block in the event of a fire or how disabled people would evacuate in an emergency. Although at Cabinet they used the term 'vulnerable' to describe people eligible for additional safety measures there is no detail about what measures are available or planned.

Green Party GLA candidate calls for government action against asset stripper Philip Green as Harrow Debenhams faces closure

Debenhams, Harrow yesterday

Following the news about the collapse of Debenhams and the imminent closure of its Harrow store, Emma Wallace, GLA Green Party candidate for Brent and Harrow, has called for government action against owner Philip Green.

Emma said:

I am very sad to hear of the demise of Debenhams and particularly, the Debenhams in Harrow.  The closure of this historic and iconic store will leave a huge hole in a local town centre and is another nail in the coffin for the local high street as a place for retail and community.  It will also result in thousands of jobs being lost at a time when people are already struggling to get by, with Christmas round the corner, the impact of Covid being felt and with Brexit on the horizon.  

The government's universal credit scheme is not fit for purpose and with UC cuts also looming, it will not provide an adequate safety net for people losing their jobs.  Whilst we have seen the government handing out contracts to new and unregulated companies with little to no accountability during the pandemic, their response to ordinary British workers has been lacking and confused in this most difficult of years.  The government must do the right thing and provide proper financial support for the thousands who are potentially set to lose their retail jobs.

Philip Green, the Debenhams and Arcardia group owner, who ironically was made a Knight in 2006 'For Services to Retail Industry', has been hugely detrimental to the British high street, seeing his scandalous, asset stripping continued unabated for nearly twenty years.  The government has again, completely failed to hold Green to account, first seeing the demise of BHS in 2016, leaving the business with £571 million pension debt and now one of the largest and oldest names on the high street collapsing under his tenure.  It is essential the govenment now holds Green to account and he clears any existing pensions deficit with the Arcardia retail jobs lost.

Time to Talk about the Brent Black Community Action Plan - Tuesday December 8th 6-8.30pm

  From the Brent Council EventBrite page - I hope the Bridge Park campaigners get a look-in to hold the Council to account.

We will be reigniting the conversation on race, identity and the experiences of Black people in an honest and meaningful way.

About this Event

Keynote talks from Lord Simon Woolley and Akala.

Brent Council and Young Brent Foundation want to facilitate a genuinely community centred conversation on race, identity and the experiences of Black people in an honest and meaningful way. Given all that has happened around the world in relation to the issue of race and racism over the last few months, we believe this will be a very timely and pertinent conversation for people in the London Borough of Brent. We are the most diverse local authority area in the country and home to one of the oldest and largest African Caribbean communities in London.

Agenda as followed:

• Keynote talk; Lord Simon Woolley (Founder, Operation Black Vote)
• Video on the Brent Black Community Action Plan
• Panel discussion with Brent-based panel members; Ashley Theophane (British Boxer), Liz Mitchell (Lead Singer, Boney M), Danny Coyle (Headteacher), Deji Adeoshun (Youth & Community Manager), Martina Jean-Jacques (Psychotherapist)
• In Conversation with Akala & David Okoro; Akala (Artist, Writer & Historian) & David Okoro (Co-founder and Director of Westside Young Leaders Academy)

This event is open to local residents, partners and professionals, and we want the conversation to build on the Brent Black Community Action Plan. This action plan was developed by and for Brent’s Black community and we want to use this event to help the community to continue to hold the council accountable for delivering the actions, which are aimed at addressing racial inequality.

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/time-to-talk-about-the-brent-black-community-action-plan-tickets-129327143969

Brent Council's Scrutiny Committee & public ignored as Wembley Ambulance Station closure goes ahead

 

Brent TUC demonstrate outside Kenton Ambulance Station where Wembley staff have been stationed during Covid

Cllr Ketan Sheth confirmed via Twitter this afternoon that the Wembley Ambulance Station closure had gone ahead on December 1st.

Cllr Sheth is Chair of the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee that discussed the proposed closure as an emergency item at their last meeting.  Having heard  the London Ambulance Service at the meeting, members were not satisfied and particulalrly concerned that there had been no consultation with councillors or the public as required by statute.

The Committee recommended that the closure be paused while a full public consultation was carried out.

They have been ignored.

Brent Trades Council launched a campaign to stop the closure and set up a petition addressed to the  the head of the London Ambulance Service calling for the closure of Wembley and other ambulance stations to stop.

They have been ignored.

 

'Once in a lifetime' opportunity as Brent youngsters compose amd perform ANTHEM FOR BRENT 2020 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Reposted from the website of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra LINK

This autumn, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s (RPO) community and education programme RPO Resound has been building on its thriving relationship with Brent Music Service (BMS) and today marks the culmination of this very special collaboration. Brent is The Mayor’s London Borough of Culture for 2020 and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has been working in partnership with BMS, award-winning composer and music leader James Redwood, the poet Momtaza Mehri and more than 8,000 Brent school children and young members of BMS orchestras to compose and perform Anthem for Brent 2020.

Young people from Brent have been involved in the anthem-writing process throughout 2020, and, for the final stage of the creative process, a further 15 young creatives (aged 10-18) and 8 choir members took part in digital workshops (October-December), collaborating with professional composer James Redwood and nine musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The participants wrote lyrics, composed melodies and music, worked with a film director to create an accompanying film, and recorded themselves singing and performing alongside world-class professionals.

A video of the Anthem for Brent 2020 will soon be available to view on this page and on the RPO YouTube Channel. 

You can also view or download the lyrics to the 2020 Anthem here.

This project was generously supported by John Lyon’s Charity, and Brent 2020, London Borough of Culture.

Here is some feedback from parents of some of the young participants.

As a participant’s mum, I’d like to express my thanks to you all for everything you have done to encourage my son to have a go at the tasks during the writing workshop over the last four days. 

"When my son realised he had been selected to participate in this workshop he was very excited. He couldn’t quite believe it. However, he did feel a little scared because he has never done anything like this before. Thanks a lot for being so lovely to him and for making him feel confident and comfortable to express his thoughts. I think he may be the youngest participant but he never felt left out. I appreciate there are a lot of talented youngsters in the session however you guys and girls made sure everyone was included regardless of musical talent or ability."

"My son says he has learnt a lot. The following I quote  from when I asked him about the sessions........”My English is going to be so much better when I go back to school & I know more about music now too. I’m very thankful that I was chosen because it has inspired me to continue to try my best with music as it will all help me to be a musician when I’m older. The “teachers” are so good.”

"My son thinks you are all amazing. He loves music, he sings with a Choir and was learning to play the violin & had a few piano lessons prior to our national lockdown in March. Unfortunately, the instrumental lessons haven’t resumed yet but he enjoys his weekly choir zoom call. He keeps telling us he will be a musician when he is older. Therefore having the opportunity to work with and listen to such talented individuals is inspiring and an experience he will never forget. He was fascinated by how quickly everything came together this week. [The Workshop Leader] James made a lasting impression on  my son. “oh my, how does he do that?” was a phrase I’ve heard a lot of over the last few days."

We have some feedback from young participants too: 

"A quick note to say that, I found the experience of creating the anthem highly enjoyable and enriching. I was glad to be selected to take part in this unique opportunity. 

It is a privilege to work on a project with high calibre musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Brent Music Service. Thank you, James, Rupert, Sophie, Gerald, Orli and Tim. I look forward to finishing off the project."  Male participant.

"Thank you for the once in a lifetime opportunity to work with the RPO musicians and for allowing me to write music for the Brent Anthem." Female participant/Sister.

"Thank you all RPO musicians for coming to assist us and create the first anthem for Brent."  Male participant/Brother.

 

Brent Council Tax and Council Rents to rise but Council says it is not as hard hit as some

 

Brent Council's Overall Financial Position
 

Next week's Cabinet will discuss proposals for the 2021-22 Council budget.  The report to Cabinet LINK lists many uncertainties caused by the pandemic and lack of clarity over government funding.  However, the report states:

The new proposals for 2021/22 and 2022/23 are designed to limit, as far as possible, service reductions and the impact on front line services particularly during these challenging times. For example, the new proposals include expected gains from re-procurement of major contracts, service transformations and efficiency savings. This does not mean that delivering these planned savings, if approved, will be managerially straightforward, or that front- line services will be entirely unaffected, or that they can be achieved without staffing reductions, but it is nonetheless the case that the new proposals set out in this report do not include the wholesale cuts to services that many Councils are considering and indeed implementing. 

Consultation on the proposals will take place between this month and February 2021. 

Features of the budget include

 A Council Tax increase of 4.99%, making a Band D Council Tax of £1,378.26 (for the Brent element). The GLA precept is unknown at this stage and is subject to their own decision making and consultation processes.

New budget savings proposals of £5.1m to be delivered between 2021/22 and 2022/23. LINK

 

An increase of Council rents of 1.5% (figures below are per week)

 

The report admits that the Council Tax rise will hit people. It refers to the Council Tax Support scheme which they expect to be used more but not all of those hit by the rise will be eligible. Similarly more people may fall into rent arrears when so many are hit by job losses and income falls because of Covid19.

 

Three possible scenarios are given for pressure on services ranging from additonal costs of £5m to £20m

 

 Officers estimate that 63% of the planned cuts are on track to be realised, while others will be realised in future years.  One cut that was due was via a review of homecare and placement packages, re-commissioning day care (£250,000).

 

The report states:

This saving is delayed because the re-commissioning of daycare has been affected by Covid-19 as daycare will have to be delivered in a different format as a result of the pandemic. It is expected that these savings will be achieved through reduced transport usage.

A disability campaigner told Wembley Matters:

Although there is very little detail it looks like the only  2 day centres left for disabled people will not reopen and all the council daycare will be in a new format.  But the. clue is they will save £250k in transport costs from the remainder of this year and another £250K next year.  That means with no daycentres, no transport is needed to pick the disabled people up, as most of them have mobility issues.

So who will speak up for the most severely disabled people in Brent, if not Wembley Matters?  It seems that nearly every London borough has an organisation representing disabled people but Brent does not have one, apart from Brent Advocacy Concerns which no longer have the resources to challenge the council anymore.

The report states that these cuts are 'technical' and therefore don't have to be consulted on.  They are included for transparency:

The Freedom Pass saving depends on the progress of Covid and a return to normality is likely to increase demand again.

Schools are funded separately though the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) calculated by the National Funding Formula. Schools have incurred increased costs because of Covid and there has been some central government financial support but this has now ended, although additional money still has to be spent on additional cleaning costs, and supply cover for staff self-isolating or on sick leave. Covid restructions means that lettings income has dropped through the floor.

However, many were already facing financial problems because of the school funding crisis and the unfunded pay increase. More are expected to fall into deficit next year. The situation will worsen because the High Needs Block of the DSG is not keeping up with demand so the  Schools Forum will be asked to take money from the Schools section of the budget to additionally fund the High Needs in the borough.

 
High needs funding is intended to provide the most appropriate support package for children and young people (from early years up to aged 25) with special educational needs and disabilities in a range of settings, taking account of parental and student choice.

The report states:

The pressure in the HNB has led to the DSG being in a £4.9 million deficit carried forward from 2019/20 and further forecast pressures of £4.2 million in 2020/21 will increase the deficit position to £9.1 million. The DfE require local authorities with an overall DSG deficit to present a plan to recover the deficit over a number of financial years. To recover the deficit in the medium to long term, options being reviewed by the task group set up by the Strategic Director of Children and Young People include;

Looking to establish more Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND) provision in the borough as part of the School Place Planning Strategy Refresh including developing new Additionally Resourced Provisions (ARPs);

Ensuring there is full cost recovery from other local authorities that place pupils in Brent special schools including administration and other specific costs;

Review of the DSG funded SEN support services currently underway.

 One thing is clear - without any action by the Government schools face a very tough time financially in 2021-22 as will most Brent residents.

 

 

 

Brent Council guidance on Tier 2 restrictions

Tier 2 COVID restrictions

Brent, along with the rest of London, will be in the second highest risk level – Tier 2 – when the ‘stay at home’ restrictions end on 2 December 2020.

The regional approach, where different ‘Tiers’ of restrictions apply in different parts of the country, is a tougher version of the previous local COVID alert level system.

The specific rules that apply to areas in Tier 2 are:

• You cannot mix with anyone indoors unless you live with them or they’re in your support bubble, but you can still meet people outdoors while sticking to the rule of six
• Pubs and bars must close completely unless they can operate as restaurants and they must all be shut by 11pm
• You can do an exercise class or play sport outdoors, but indoors you can only exercise with other people in the same household or support bubble
• Gyms, non-essential shops and personal care services like beauty salons and hairdressers can re-open
• Up to 2,000 fans can gather to watch any live event or sports match
• You should continue to work from home if you can
• Communal worship can restart, however you cannot socialise with anyone while you are indoors there unless you live with them or they’re in your support bubble

Public health experts have warned that London could easily have been placed in the worst ‘Tier 3’ risk level and that this is where we will find ourselves if cases don’t continue to fall.

COVID has not gone away and is still a real and present threat – especially to older people and those with underlying health conditions. That’s why it’s important you continue to protect yourself and your loved ones to stop the spread of the virus by:

• Washing your hands, or using hand sanitiser, regularly
• Wearing a face covering in indoor public spaces
• Making space between you and others outside your household or support bubble
• When indoors with people you live with or your support bubble, try to open your windows and let fresh air in regularly as this can reduce your risk of infection by over 70%
• Walking or cycling where possible and avoiding busy times and routes when travelling

 Find out more about the rules that apply to areas in Tier 2

Forming a Christmas bubble

The government has announced an easing of social restrictions over the Christmas period so that families who do not live together can decide whether they want to risk celebrating the holiday season together.

From 23 to 27 December, three households will be able to meet indoors and outdoors, forming a ‘Christmas bubble’.

The rules on forming Christmas bubbles are:

• Christmas bubbles will be able to meet in private homes, attend places of worship together and meet in outdoor public places, however bubbles cannot meet up in pubs or restaurants
• Christmas bubbles are fixed, meaning once three households have formed a bubble this cannot be changed and you cannot be a part of more than one bubble
• You can travel between tiers and UK nations for the purposes of meeting your Christmas bubble
• Existing support bubbles count as one household
• Children of separated parents can move between two Christmas bubbles

When following these new rules, people are reminded to continue to take personal responsibility to limit the spread of the virus and protect loved ones, particularly if they are vulnerable.

Find out more about the rules on forming a Christmas bubble.

Test and Trace

Find out more about Test and Trace in Brent.

Face coverings

The use of face coverings can help us protect each other and reduce the spread of the disease if you are in an enclosed space where social distancing isn’t possible and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.

From Friday 24 July 2020 you must wear a face covering in shops and supermarkets.

You must also continue to wear face coverings when:

• Using public transport, like buses or the Tube
• Visiting a hospital, as an outpatient or visitor, and
• In enclosed public spaces where social distancing is not possible.

You don’t need to wear your face covering outdoors, while exercising or in schools and offices.

Children under the age of 11 and people who may find it difficult to wear a face covering, because of a disability or breathing difficulty, do not need to wear one.

Clinically Extremely Vulnerable

The Government paused the NHS Shielding Programme for Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) people on 31 July 2020.

However, from 5 November 2020, following new national restrictions, the government has advised anyone who is CEV to:

• Stay at home as much as possible, although you can still go outside to exercise
• Continue with medical and NHS appointments unless these are cancelled
• Don’t go to work – although you should work from home if you can
• Avoid shops and pharmacies

Read more advice, guidance and details of the support available for people classed as clinically extremely vulnerable

Medical help

If you need medical help for any reason, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

If you have symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature or a new, continuous cough), use the 111 coronavirus service.

If you need help or advice not related to coronavirus:

• For health information and advice, use the NHS website or your GP surgery website
• For urgent medical help, use the NHS 111 online service – only call 111 if you're unable to get help online
• For life-threatening emergencies, call 999 for an ambulance

Read more advice about getting medical help at home.

Travelling safely on public transport

If you need to travel, Transport for London advises cycling, walking or driving. This is to help ensure there is enough space for those who need to travel on public transport to do so safely.

Passengers are encouraged where possible to:

• Keep two metres apart from others
• Wear a face covering
• Use contactless payment
• Avoid the rush hour
• Wash hands before and after travel
• Follow advice from staff.

More advice on walking, cycling, and travelling in vehicles or on public transport during the coronavirus outbreak

Pregnancy

If you're pregnant and worried about coronavirus, you can get advice about coronavirus and pregnancy from the Royal College of Obstretricians and Gynaecologists

Diabetes

Having diabetes does not mean you are more likely to catch coronavirus.  However, if you do catch coronavirus, it can cause more severe symptoms and complications in people with diabetes.

Coronavirus guidance for people living with diabetes from NHS North West London