LETTER: Cllr Mashari responds to SKPPRA letter

 

Dear Editor

 

As many people will know, I continue to suffer with long Covid after having been infected with Covid 19 twice in 2021. I became very ill at the end of last year and correspondence during my illness at this time may have been missed. It may have been more helpful (and kinder) if Mr Rushe had chosen to enquire about the status of his response with me upon my phased return to work rather than deciding on this course of action, which could run the risk of being perceived as a partisan move so close to the local elections. 

The allegations and tone of Mr Rushe’s letter attempt to undermine and erase the significant personal and professional investment I put in to listening to library campaigners and working with them to find a way for the libraries to stay open- efforts which could be verified by those involved with the campaigns at the time. I have always acted with integrity and heartfelt solidarity in my dealings with each of the community library campaigns in Brent. 

I stood against the then cabinet member with responsibility for libraries, Cllr James Powney, in an internal election precisely because I believed that the council needed to change its direction and take a more collaborative approach to working with communities impacted by the library closures. Upon my election as cabinet member I met with all library campaign groups face to face and worked tirelessly alongside them to secure the conditions for successful volunteer-led community libraries. I will not take credit for the fantastic and exhausting work so many inspiring community activists have undertaken to establish community libraries but I believe most of the library campaigns would agree that my taking over as cabinet member at the time changed the tone between campaigners and the council and that I played a not insignificant role in the journeys of the community libraries. I was also responsible for initiating the Councils’ first ever Community Asset Transfer strategy to ensure local residents could have much more democratic choice and ownership over the fate of public buildings.

I am sorry that Mr Rushe (who I understand does not represent the Preston Community Library group or speak on their behalf) is frustrated by the actions of the council but it is unreasonable to attempt to lay blame personally at my door for these frustrations. 

I am not able to comment on discussions between the cabinet and library campaigners since I resigned from the cabinet, and have not been privy to all communication and discussions between both parties. I am also not able to comment on what circumstances and events may or may not have legitimately changed or come to light since my own discussions with the Preston Library campaign all those years ago.

What I do know is that the Preston Community Library group will be moving into their brand new library premises in April 2023 and are currently in discussions with the Council on the layout and fittings of the building. Brent Council has also provided a temporary home to the community library free of charge at Ashley Gardens. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and personally thank the Preston Community Library Campaign for coming so far and for successfully securing a space for the community library in the face of savage local authority cuts from central government, which ultimately have been the root cause of library closures right across the UK.

I hope this assists in providing a more accurate record and context of my personal involvement with the library campaigns in Brent and I look forward to the new community library opening early next year. 

Cllr Roxanne Mashari

 

LETTER: Promises, Promises...

 Dear Editor,

 

It is local election time and existing and prospective councillors are on doorsteps or in hustings making promises. We recall our community’s experience of an election promise.

 

On the 7^th May 2014 at a public meeting in St. Erconwald’s Church Hall, Councillor Roxanne Mashari then a member of Brent Council Cabinet and still a Councillor today said:

 

‘Therefore this Labour administration the Labour Party in Brent will offer the building at a peppercorn rent to a local community group who can provide a sustainable community library and that is our pledge’.

 

The ‘building’ was the Preston Library Building – the only publicly owned community space in our area. The matter was an election issue because the Labour administration closed the library in the face of widespread opposition.

 

Years of evasion followed while the Council looked for every possible excuse (school use need etc.) to renege on their promise.

 

Eventually Brent submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of the site and faced down persistent, reasoned, and evidenced opposition that the redevelopment was contrary to their promise, is contrary to the Local Plan, will increase the flood risk, and will result in climate abuse. Brent ignored these issues in years of ‘community consultation’ and twice granted planning consent for their own development. The matter then proceeded to the High Court for Judicial Review.

 

At the second Judicial Review – the first one quashed the planning consent – and faced with a High Court Judge finding for a second time that the development is contrary to the Local Plan – the Labour administration instructed its lawyers to invoke the Senior Courts Act – a law introduced by the Thatcher Government to limit the involvement of ordinary citizens in government decisions.

 

To the astonishment of many including their own supporters a Labour Council (who persistently say they are constrained by Tory Government cuts) used the tools of the Thatcher Government to impose its development on our community.

 

On 26 June 2020 in a video meeting – we asked the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive to honour Councillor Mashari’s Pledge. They did not deny the pledge or what it meant for the library, but the Chief Executive replied that an administration coming into office after an election could never be bound by the promises made by a candidate for council in an election campaign.

 

The pledge was referred to the Council’s Monitoring Officer who administers the Brent Members Code of Conduct. This describes the expected integrity, accountability, and honesty of members – qualities which most residents would see as relevant to a failure to keep a public promise.

 

In a decision published on 26 August 2021 the Monitoring Officer decided that too much time had passed since the pledge for it to be in the ‘public interest’ to investigate the matter. She added - as an individual Member of the Council and the Cabinet, Cllr Mashari had no power to make a binding commitment on behalf of the Council or Cabinet.

 

Residents should therefore heed the advice of the Monitoring Officer - candidates cannot make promises and don’t be patient when they mislead.

 

Despite Brent Council’s appalling treatment of our community, we believe in free speech and a right of reply. On the 15 October 2021 we asked Councillor Mashari to explain why she had not kept her promise because we intended to publish this review and wanted to give her a right to reply.

 

Within an hour Councillor Mashari replied that she would make a substantive response by next Tuesday. (19 October 2021).

 

On the 23 October 2021 she said she was ill but would address the points you have made here thoroughly. Please be assured that I will reply as soon as possible.

 

We never heard again from Councillor Mashari.

 

It seems for Brent councillors ‘next Tuesday’ just never comes. ‘Next Tuesday’ never comes either for Brent Council’s ‘promise’ to tackle the climate emergency.

 

Brent Council demolished the library in December 2021.

 

Instead of giving the building to the community as Councillor Mashari promised, it was given to a demolition contractor to take to landfill to aid in the Council’s destruction of the planet.

 

Michael  Rushe,

Chair

South Kenton Preston Park Residents Association

 

Brent Cycling Campaign calls for local election candidates to commit to 5 key pledges

 

 

The local branch of London Cycling Campaign, has launched its #ClimateSafeStreets campaign to get Brent’s next council leader to commit to bolder action on climate and zero carbon roads transport by 2030 – when the Mayor of London says the entire city needs to be carbon neutral. Brent Cycling Campaign is asking the candidates likely to be council leader, as well as other candidates, to commit to a set of borough-specific pledges including: 

1. Protected space to cycle on major roads,

2. Activate places by enabling inclusive active travel access to all places where we work, live, study, shop and play;

3. Children-friendly neighbourhoods with more school streets and low traffic neighbourhoods;

4. Double cycle parking provision for short and long stays;

5. Create logistics hubs to limit Heavy Good Vehicles traversing through the borough.

In the run-up to the 5 May local elections we are asking residents to go to lcc.org.uk/climate to find out more about the borough campaign and send an email to candidates supporting it.

After putting in your postcode you will land on this page:

Brent Cycling Campaign said:

Tackling the climate crisis demands bold action and fast. In Brent, road transport emissions account for 49% of NOx and 22% of CO2. We need our next council leader to hear loudly and clearly that they need to do more to swap cars for walking, cycling and public transport whenever possible. We’re asking candidates to commit to our pledges before the local elections. We will be hosting a Hustings on 20th of April, organising a Climate Safe Streets Ride and sharing a short video to make the climate crisis, our polluted, congested roads and healthy, active alternatives to cars a big issue they can’t ignore.

New app turns any street ‘Climate Safe’ in minutes

The Brent Cycling Campaign will also be using exclusive London Cycling Campaign access to new visualisation tool BetaStreets throughout the local election period to showcase what streets in the borough could look like if made ‘Climate Safe’. LCC will also be shortly releasing a new video showing how Londoners are being enabled to ditch their cars and switch to cycling by new schemes being rolled out across London.

Those responding to LCC’s social media most frequently indicated the following as the worst streets in London:

1. Lewisham Gateway, Lewisham

2. Old Kent Road, Southwark

3. Green Lanes, Haringey

4.  A406, North Circular 

5. Holloway Road, Islington

We are looking forward to re-imagining Brent streets with this tool, based on suggestions sent by Brent residents who have enough of polluted, congested and dangerous roads. 

For more information on Brent Cycling Campaign’s Climate Safe Streets campaign: lcc.org.uk/brent and a summary of our asks here.

VIDEO: Brent local elections hustings on the environment. Who would you vote for?

Muhammed Butt's poll rating dives AFTER he speaks at Environment Hustings

It's not a scientific poll and just for fun but a poll of voting intentions was taken before candidates spoke at this evening's Friends of the Earth Environmental hustings and afterwards.

This was the result:

Candidate	Party	Before %	After %
David Stevens	Green	29	31
Anton Georgiou	Liberal Democrat	21	33
Sunita Hirani	Conservative	15	14
Muhammed Butt	Labour	35	17
	Undecided	9	6

 

Principled Kilburn councillor, Abdirazak Abdi, removed from office

 

Cllr Abdirazak Abdi, elected as a Labour councillor but latterly sitting as an independent after action by the Brent Labour Group, has been removed from office Brent councillors have been informed this afternoon.

Cllr Abdi's integrity and his courage in standing up for what he thought was right earned him respect from many but the emnity of Council Leader Muhammed Butt. He follows in the footsteps of former Kilburn councillor John Duffy who was also a thorn in the side of Butt & Co who do not value independence of thought or deed.

The statement sent to councillors said:

I’m writing to inform you that with effect from Tuesday 22 March 2022, Councillor Abdirazak Abdi has ceased to hold office as an elected member of the London Borough of Brent.

Under Section 85 (1) of the Local Government Act 1972 all Members of the Local Authority are required to attend at least one meeting of that Authority within a six month consecutive period to avoid being disqualified from continuing to serve as a councillor.  Unfortunately, as a result of Councillor Abdi not being able to meet this requirement he has now ceased to hold office.  The election to fill this vacancy will be undertaken as part of the local borough elections on Thursday 5 May 2022 and the notice of the vacancy has  been posted today and can be found here: Election notices | Brent Council

 

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Care about fresh air, safe roads, green spaces, climate change? Hear from Brent election candidates at environmental hustings TONIGHT 7pm

The speakers at the the Brent FoE Environmental Hustings (in alphabetical order) will be:

Councillor Muhammed Butt (Labour) - Currently Leader of Brent Council
Councillor Anton Georgiou (Liberal Democrat) - Currently representing Alperton Ward
Sunita Hirani (Conservative) Candidate for Kenton Ward
David Stevens (Green Party) - Candidate for Welsh Harp Ward

 

Speakers will outline their Party’s policy, and answer questions from local people on environmental matters. The meeting will cover topics related to climate change, including questions on energy costs, housing, transport, the natural environment, air quality, waste and other matters of concern to local people.

 

There will be an opportunity to submit questions for candidates in advance, as well as raising questions at the meeting. If you have a question you would like to put to the panel, please email us with the text of your question, and let us know if you would like to ask it yourself or have it put to the candidates by the chair.

 

The meeting will be chaired by locally based barrister, broadcaster and author, Hashi Mohamed, who will put the questions and challenge candidates on their policies.

 

You will need to register in advance, and you will be sent a link to the event shortly before it starts. To register, go to https://www.tickettailor.com/events/brentfriendsoftheearth/664005

 

 

South Kilburn residents will have to endure a summer of 24 hours a day, 5 days a week, work on the HS2 vent. Is Brent Council concerned for their health and wellbeing?

 

Seven years ago South Kilburn residents demonstrated against the siting of an HS2 vent on the estate because of the disruption its building would cause and the fact that it was right next to a primary school.

They were even more furious when they discovered that their own council, Brent Council, had lobbied to have the vent moved to the estate, already suffering from disruptive regeneration, from the original site on council owned land next to Queens Park station.

Years of noise, dust and stress have followed so residents were even more distressed to have a warning from HS2  LINK of worse to come.  South Kilburn resident Pete Firmin told Wembley Matters:

HS2 seems to be able to work whenever it likes, doing whatever it wants, with the blessing of Brent Council. The Council itself never communicates with local residents about the works, and as far as anyone can tell, doesn't monitor whether HS2 keeps to even the few restrictions on its working hours etc. Neighbours of the vent shaft have given up complaining, because nothing happens. How inadequate protection from noise and dust really is may be indicated by the fact that HS2 lists further work on the retaining wall they already erected between the site and Carlton House as one of its next jobs. 

 

Since persuading HS2 that the vent shaft should be in the middle of the estate rather than on the empty Queens Park station car park, Brent, for all intents and purposes, has washed its hands of any responsibility. And HS2 is no longer willing to meet residents together, insisting all "consultation" is one to one.

No recognition by either Brent or HS2 of the stress and exposure to noise and dust caused by living in the South Kilburn building site for 20+ years

This is part of the communication from HS2 to residents:

Extended working hours within the Canterbury Works site

 
We wrote to you previously regarding extended hours while we build the ventilation shaft. The sprayed concrete lining (SCL) works were due to start on the 7 March 2022 and continue until September 2022.due to ongoing reviews of our working methods, these works work will now start in late March or early April and will continue until September 2022. The exact date remains subject to confirmation.

The SCL and shaft excavation works will take place throughout the day and night. This must be carried out as a continuous process to avoid collapses and ensure the safety of the workforce within the ventilation shaft during construction. This means that from late March / early April we will be permitted to carry out works 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. We will only carry out works agreed with Brent Council and will adhere to the agreed working hours, noise and vibration limits.

The diagram below shows a cut section of the shaft and how it will be constructed.

Enhancement works within the Network Rail Yard

 
Works are ongoing within the site, near the Network Rail tracks, to prepare for installation of a new site access point via Albert Road. These works will involve the construction of a new access ramp for vehicles to enter the site. As part of these works, we will be carrying out works to strengthen the retaining wall between our site and back gardens at Carlton House. These works are currently planned from May to July but remain subject to confirmation. The works will be agreed with Brent Council and we will write to Carlton House resident with more information.

Whilst we continue the works to prepare for the new ramp and vehicle access point, we will continue using the site access on Canterbury Road for vehicle entry and exit from site.

What to expect during our works

 
During the works outlined in this update you may notice the following within the site:
• Heavy good vehicles – entering and exiting site
• Excavators / excavating activities
• Cranes / lifting operations
• Lighting towers
• Concreting equipment
• Temporary traffic management and signage during work on the public highway