Deputation on Brent’s Poverty Commission Update – why no response?

Guest post by Philip Grant in a personal capacity

 

At the end of a guest blog about Brent’s Wembley Housing Zone on 15 April, I mentioned that I was waiting for the written response from the Council to a deputation of 9 March, on a report to a Scrutiny Committee about its progress on implementing the recommendations of the 2020 Brent Poverty Commission Report. I’m still waiting!

 

I was meant to present my deputation via zoom to a meeting of the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee, near the end of a meeting which went on for over three hours. However, not long into my presentation, the sound from me started to break up, and the Chair, Cllr. Roxanne Mashari, decided that they would have to cut me off. She asked me to send a written copy of my deputation, so that a written response could be sent. I was then immediately removed from the zoom link.

 

Martin, to whom I’d already sent a copy for information, published the text of my deputation straight away on “Wembley Matters”, and I sent an email to Cllr. Mashari, her committee members and its Governance Officer with a pdf copy of my deputation. The following morning, Martin sent me a screenshot of Cllr. Mashari’s “like” of his “tweet” sharing the link to that blog.

 

 

Two weeks later, as I’d heard nothing further, I emailed Cllr. Mashari, and Cllr. Eleanor Southwood, who I understood would be dealing with the Council’s response, as my deputation concentrated on the Housing section of the Poverty Commission Update. I attached another pdf copy of my deputation, and asked one of them, or the Governance Officer to whom it was copied, to let me have the response, or the date I could expect it, if it wasn’t ready then. 

 

At first, they denied having previously had a copy of my deputation. Then Cllr. Mashari told me, on 23 March, that she would seek to ensure I got 'a full response as soon as possible, at the latest within the next ten working days.' After further “chasing” I was told on 11 April that ‘a written response is being prepared [and] will be with you as soon as possible.’ Still nothing!

 

On 26 April, in response to yet another email, the Governance Officer wrote: ‘I can confirm that a response on the issues raised within your deputation is currently being prepared and will be shared with you as soon as it has been finalised.’ He also added that it was having to be prepared from ‘a copy of the version posted online’, as they had not received a document copy from me (despite these being sent on 9 and 23 March!).

 

You would have thought that Cllr. Southwood and Senior Council Officers would have wanted to answer the serious concerns I had raised about the Poverty Commission Update report (signed off by the Assistant Chief Executive). These had been publicised widely online, and they had been promised a “right of reply”, with their response also published on “Wembley Matters”. It now seems they are determined NOT to reply before the elections on 5 May. WHY?

 

Brent Poverty Commission recommendation on social rented homes.

 

The Poverty Commission’s key recommendation on housing, which Brent’s Cabinet accepted in 2020, was that the Council should invest more in building homes for letting at social rent levels. But the report (which recommended that Scrutiny Committee should simply “note” the progress made) did not mention the words “social rent” at all in its Housing section!

 

Instead, it repeated the Council’s claims of the great progress made with its New Council Homes programme. My deputation challenged that, using information from the excellent “Life in Kilburn” blog from September 2021, which exposed the reality of Brent’s claim to be building “1,000 New Council Homes” by 2024. [The Cabinet has since agreed to buy a couple of blocks of leasehold flats from developers, but that is not quite the same thing!]

 

My deputation also alleged that this concentration on the New Homes programme was an attempt to hide from Scrutiny that, so far, NO new Council homes had been built for letting at social rent levels. I will be very interested to read the Council’s response on that point, because Cllr. Southwood must have heard at least some of my zoom presentation on 9 March. When I went to Brent’s online webcast library to find out what had been said at the meeting after I was “thrown out” from it, she appeared to give an answer.

 

Cllr. Southwood appeared to say: ‘all of our housing is at social rents.’ I believe that statement to be, at the least, misleading! You’d think that someone who has been Lead Member for Housing for several years would know what the different types of homes which fall within the definition of “affordable housing” are. Here is part of a chart from the GLA website which explains them:

 

GLA Source LINK

 As the chart shows, “social rent” ‘is the only housing type really affordable to lower income Londoners’, that is why the Brent Poverty Commission recommended that it was the type of housing the Council should invest in for its new homes. One of the Poverty Commission’s key findings was that: ‘no family with two children (whether couple or lone parent) can afford any rent that is more expensive than LB Brent social rents.’

 

But most of the new homes Brent Council is building will be for London Affordable Rent (sometimes referred to ‘as “social rent”, which it is not’). That is higher than “social rent” levels. And some of the New Council Homes will be at “Intermediate” rent levels, or for Shared Ownership, which although these are still described as “affordable”, would not be for most Brent families in housing need. On the Council’s Cecil Avenue development, the proposed split of the 250 homes to be built is 37 for London Affordable Rent, 61 at Intermediate Rent or Shared Ownership, 152 for private sale by a developer partner and zero for social rent!

 

That is why my deputation called on the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee to challenge the failure to comply with the Commission’s recommendation over social rented homes, and demand that Brent Council does better. I look forward to hearing how they will do that, but how much longer I will have to wait for their written response is an open question.

Philip Grant.

Book and Kulture pop-up brings a welcome multi-ethnic dimension to Quintain's Wembley Park - photo review

It is over 10 years since a petition LINK was launched to save the Willesden Bookshop from closure. The much-loved bookshop needed an affordable space in the much vaunted new Willesden Cultural Centre that was to replace the Willesden Green Library. Unfortunately Brent Council was uncooperative and it now only exists on-line.

It's specialism was women's literature ands Black interest with an amazing selection of multi-ethnic children's books.

 The children's section in the Willesden Bookshop

It was a delight then to visit Book and Kulture at their new pop-up shop in the Quintain development at Wembley Park who also want to cater for Brent's diverse culture.  Their offering is not only books but other items with a Black interest aspect.  Local teachers are recommended to visit for the range of children's books - fiction and non-fiction.

I have tried to capture the offer in the following photographs but do pop in. You are sure of a friendly welcome.  The shop is off Olympic way next to Bread Ahead.

OPENING HOURS:

Monday Closed

Tuesday and Wednesday 11am-7pm

Thursday to Saturday 11am - 8pm

Sunday 12pm -6pm

Brent-Labour In Thatcherite Gloves: ISN’T IT JUST AN IRONY?

 

Last week an air ambulance landed at the post demolition library site to take an injured child to hospital

 

Guest post in a personal capacity by Bastôn De’Medici-Jaguar 

Your Community Archer

 

On April 27^th, the South Kenton and Preston Park residents, in a forum organised by the Residents Association (SKPPRA), scrutinised the council candidates for the elections this coming Thursday. The goal, one can infer, was to understand the policy position of the diverse candidates who presented themselves for questioning (democracy lives on). 

 

At the heart of this meeting was the hot topic of the recently passed Brent Council Planning Committee motion for the redevelopment of the Preston library. The issue is a sensitive one for the residents of SKPP – and rightly so. A consultation return indicated that 98% of the residents opposed the development, which Labour insists is to provide homes for people in the Borough. No one doubts that there is a housing crisis in Brent or indeed London. The simple controversy is this – the people do not want this kind of housing – small and exorbitantly expensive. One resident at the meeting “rightly” points out that no one in the community can afford the price tags attached to these properties. This then begs the question: who is Brent building for? The answer is anyone’s guess. 

 

The plot of land for the intending site was once the home of the Preston library. That has now been demolished to put the block of twelve flats on [Ed: a new space for the library will be provided in the block]. The actual bone in this matter is that the proposed infrastructure goes against local planning regulations. But Brent has nonetheless hammered its imprimatur to the deal. The controversy was such that the residents, through the faithful gatekeeper, Doreen Gill, launched a judicial review in the High Court. The High Court held that the proposed development was contrary to the Local Plan and found against the Council. Oh, how could they? The Council sidestepped the ruling of the Court and is pushing ahead with its machination. 

 

At the SKPPRA meeting last Wednesday, residents asked the panel of candidates, “Should the High Court's ruling be respected?” The obvious answer is yes. However, Labour-led Brent Council, represented by Councillor Daniel Kennelly at the meeting, submitted that the ruling is respected. How so? The tactic used to circumvent the Court’s ruling was a piece of legislation from the long laid to rest Thatcherite government, allowing planning regulations to be disregarded. This, Kennelly vehemently advocated and submitted, is a Conservative piece of legislation, and if anyone wanted it to change, the Conservatives are in power and thus have the clout to change it. I suspect this was directed at Cllr. Michael Maurice – a Conservative Councillor who was in the audience. Very well said and indeed correct, Cllr.Kennelly.  But there is a mistake. Brent Council is controlled by Labour. And it is this Labour council that has gone back in time to reach for the archaic legislation. This behaviour  frustrates the Court’s decision and launches an onslaught on democracy – disregarding the will of the people, and has ripped open the sacred veil of servanthood. Brent-Labour has strapped its hands in the Thatcherite gloves. Brent is now a carved-out autocratic island in a supposedly largely democratic nation. When judiciary rulings are stifled, fundamental rights can do nothing but take flight. With Brent-Labour's punching power amplified by the Thatcherite gloves,  it has winded society and flatlined the voice of the people, causing the fundamental right of 98% of SKPPRA's residents to take leave.

 

Bastôn is the Green Party candidate for Kenton. Read his election statement HERE

Wealdstone Brook: This gas is dangerous

 

Yesterday's tweet which brought a visit from Thames Water

 

 

Message from John Poole yesterday:

 

Well, as a result of Martin's blog, I had an 8.40 pm visit this evening from Thames Water. We went to the back of my garden and then…even this guy had to retreat backwards at the overpowering stench. Even he realised how dangerous it was. This gas is very serious. it needs a big intervention tomorrow. Something is very seriously wrong. 

 

I am now convinced that a septic tank is periodically emptying into the Brook during the day and night. Whatever the 'misconnections(s)' this tank is directly connected to the Brook. Hence the periodic but not consistent stench. The chemical vapours from a septic tank evaporate quickly from cold water. I would guess the connection is fairly close to the end of Kenton Lane on the Harrow side. My guess…

 

Editor’s note:  This is now a Public Health crisis. Apart from running close to suburban gardens and through a public park Weladstone Brook runs close to St Gregory’s High School and Uxendon Manor Primary School.

Our river is dying!

 

Photograph from the mural bridge in Woodcock Park today., Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May 2022. It shows grey fungus that grows on human sewage. 

 

Guest post by Joy Rickman, Friends of Woostock Park

 

If the Wealdstone Brook was a patient in a hospital, it would be in The Intensive Care Unit.

 

It may seem a strange way to describe a river, but it is the truth.

 

The Wealdstone Brook is indeed a river, it is a tributary of the River Brent which in turn feeds into the River Thames.

 

For a long time, the Wealdstone brook has endured the depraved behaviour of mankind. All manner of liquids and solids have been thrown, pumped or dumped into its waters creating a toxic liquid landfill.

 

Silt samples show very minimal life in the Wealdstone Brook.

 

It should be teeming with tiny invertebrates. These minute creatures and microbes that live in the bed of the river are a fantastic cleaning army. They break down harmful pollutants and chemicals in the water but, THEY ARE NOT THERE.

 

Their lives have been taken by massive volumes of water eroding away their home in the riverbed.

 

The brook further downstream - it was smelling badly

 

Every time land is paved or built on more water is sent into the rivers.  Pollutants from tyres and cars cascade into our waterway during heavy rain to add to the existing poisons.

 

The case for rivers must be made right now! There is no time to waste. Mankind must help to care for and restore the rivers.

 

The Wealdstone Brook is a beautiful, wonderful, relaxing natural resource which should be healed and cherished.

 

As a waterway it offers educational opportunities that would benefit over 4000 pupils in local schools.

 

The Wealdstone Brook should be able to leave intensive care. It should be given the cure of funding and protection and restoration that it deserves, to allow its waters to teem with life again

All power in the hands of Butt as, after 10 years as Brent Council leader, he anticipates another 4 years

Post by Martin Francis in a personal capacity

It may have escaped readers' attention that as well as local elections a Referendum is taking place in Bristol on May 5th.

What has this got to do with Brent?

The Referendum will consider whether to replace Bristol's Mayoral system, which centralises power in the hands of the Mayor, with a Committee system which spreads power across a number of key committees giving backbench councillors more power and encouraging  shared decision making and a more consensual approach to local politics.

In line with national policy Bristol Greens will be supporting the Committee option.

In August 2020 A Brent Labour Group Task Group on improving democracy and scrutiny chaired by Cllr Thomas Stephens rejected the Committee system but put forward many proposals. It is worth checking to see how many recommendations were actually implemented LINK .  A member of the Task Force, Cllr Kieron Gill, resigned becaus he felt the report was too soft.He pointed out that over the previous 10 years the number of elections held within the group, over the 4 year period of an administration, has gone from 48 to 8. Gill claimed that his call for more elections and term limits was answered by 'democracy causes arguments and disharmony' and that this sounded more like more like a North Korean apparatchik than any kind of Democrat.

He later resigned from his Brondesbury Park seat while Cllr Stephens joied the Cabinet.

Bristol and the West Momentum recognise the problem of a system based on the concentration of power in one person's hands:

Muhammed Butt will have been in power as leader of Brent Council for 10 years this month having replaced Ann John at the Labour Group election following the 2012 local election. This was not his first taste of power - he had been her deputy leader.

He is not Brent's Mayor, that is a mainly ceremonial position with the added role of chairing Council Meeting, but he heads the 8 person Cabinet.  In this role he has gradually gathered more power to himself. The number of posts elected by the Labour group has shrunk to just four: leader, deputy leader, and the two chairs of Scrutiny Committee.

Other posts are appointed by the leader and rubber stamped at the Council AGM.

Butt is so confident of Labour victory that he has asked for applications from Labour candidates for consideration for the various roles on offer (and their accompanying additional allowances) BEFORE the actual council election takes place. on Thursday.  The deadline for applications is tomorrow.

Readers will remember that Muhammed Butt also succeeded in changing the rules so that he could continue in office beyond the previous limit. The Task Group Report recommended 8 years.

This system puts the power of patronage in the Leader's hands and tomorrow's deadline restricts any internal moves over the political complexion of the administration.

The Cabinet system leaves most Labour backbenchers without any real power to affect decisions, limiting their role to rubber stamping Cabinet decisions at Full Council meetings. Other parties have even less of a role.  It assumes that backbenchers and opposition councillors have nothing of value to offer apart from being a conduit of residents' complaints to officers.  

It is a waste of potential talent and fresh views to the detriment of the common interest of residents that could be harnessed through a Committee system.

With no leadership challenge, attention will focus on the deputy leadership. Although there has been an assumption that this would go to a woman to maintain gender balance I understand that this is not a rule. Indeed Michael Pavey was Butt's deputy for a while before the two fell out.  

Mili Patel and Ellie Southwood have been mentioned as possible candidates. Shama Tatler is said to be concentrating on a possible parliamentary career in a Watford seat.  Daniel Kennelly has been mildly critical of the administration lately LINK and is a possible outsider candidate.

Given the almost one-party state in Brent the Scrutiny Committees are of key importance and need chairs and members able to take a robust approach. The Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee  is  currently chaired by Cllr Ketan  Sheth who has moved wards from Tokyngton to Wembley Central. The Resources and Public Realms Scrutiny Committee is currently chaired by Cllr Roxanne Mashari who is not standing in the council election.  It is no secret that she had a tough time in running that committee on the terms that she felt were appropriate and necessary. The Topical Issue agenda item that she introduced was not favoured by those in power.  The Joint Meeting of the two committees to discuss the Casey Review was suspended at one point because of problems in deciding who would chair the meeting.

At the recent Fairer Housing Hustings there was cross-party support for an over-hauling of the scrutiny system in Brent with housing  being so important that some felt it needed a scrutiny committee of its own.

A key appointment will be the Chair of the Planning Committee. At every meeting the chair reminds participants that this is 'a non-political quasi-judiciual committee' bound by various plans and policies.  There have, however, been concerns of indirect political influence on the committee with the most recent being the case of Abdi Abdirazak who allegedly was removed for voting the 'wrong way'. LINK The result is that Labour councillors tend to abstain, rather than vote against, problematic applications, with the lone Conservative councillor the only 'Against'. This means that multi-million applications that will change the face of Brent can go through on the vote of a handful of the 8 councillors on the committee.

It is not clear whether some external committees such as the nine-borough NW London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee will have its Brent representative nominated by the appropriate Brent Committee or by the Leader himself.

An issue that has resurfaced in this election is that of the number of potential councillors from the extended Butt family. The persistent rumours  from a number of sources allege that 10 family members are standing. The response has been that there is no way to prove a connection, that shared family interests in politics is not unusual (eg the Johnson family), and that anyway each councillor is selected democratically by a ward panel and not by the council leader.

 Muhammed Butt's position as leader currently seems secure although there are a number of new councillors this time round who may prove to be rather more independent. A letter circulated last July to selected Labour colleagues, apparently from within the Labour Group, = criticising his personal qualities, behaviour and communication skills as Labour Group leader, appears to have gained little traction. It included the suggestion that there was little to distinguish him from a Tory or Liberal Democrat in terms of of his political beliefs and especially his failure to fight Government cuts.

Given the leadership's tight hold on Labour councillors and the fate of the handful who have demonstrated some independence,  it is important to elect councillors from other parties, or Independents, who will actively hold the Council to account. With the local newspaper a shadow of its former self there is a genuine democratic deficit in the borough.

Away from formal party politics there are a number of influential networks based on religion, shared heritage, residents' associations, voluntary organisations, campaigning organisations and trade unions that make an impact.  It is noteworthy for example that the Alperton Liberal Democrat candidate has been endorsed on his election literature by the former chair of the local residents' association.

 

 

Brent Labour set up a stall at Willesden Central Mosque

Labour is looking vulnerable to the Liberal Democrats  in Alperton and Sudbury and apparently are concerned about Barnhill, scene of the legal challenge to the previous by-election result. Conservatives have been piling in the leaflets there and have been desperately distancing themselves from national events around Boris Johnson. Greens are hoping for a strong showing and moving into second place in some wards, sending an important message to Labour that residents care about environmental and social justice.

Please vote and use it to improve local democracy.

 

Kingfisher Way mother sentenced following sad death of her 11-month old daughter - Brent Council statement

Following the jailing  of Fartun Jamal of Kinhfisher Way, Brent,  for causing the death of her 11-month old baby, Wembley Matters asked Brent Council if Brent Social Services or Health visitors were involved with the family and whether there would be a Serious Cse Review.

Brent Council responded:

Brent Council is deeply saddened at the death of baby Nafahat due to the lack of appropriate care provided by her mother, who has now been convicted.

 

All agencies involved with the family reviewed their practice within a short period of time following Nafahat’s death in 2019. Brent Council’s social workers had acted appropriately when concerns about the care provided to her were first raised. When the criminal proceedings concluded recently, multi-agency safeguarding partners met to review learning from 2019. All safeguarding partners continue to work together to understand, learn and address the issue of parental neglect in the local area.

Metropolitan Police statement:

A mother has been jailed for causing the death of her 11-month-old baby daughter after she housed her in squalor and failed to seek medical treatment for her when she became ill.

Fartun Jamal, 25 (10.09.96), of Kingfisher Way, Brent, was jailed for five years and six months at Harrow Crown Court on Friday, 29 April.

She was found guilty at the same court on Friday, 4 March of causing the death of Nafahat Diini as well as three counts of child cruelty following a trial.

Detective Chief Inspector Madeline Ryder, the senior investigating officer, said: 

This is an absolutely tragic case that resulted in the needless death of an innocent baby.

The death of a child is an investigation that no police officer ever wishes to undertake. All of the officers and staff who were involved in the investigation have been left deeply affected by it. The investigation team, led by Detective Sergeant John Martin, worked tirelessly to get justice for Nafahat.

No child should ever have to suffer in this manner. Baby Nafahat was only 11 months old when she died in squalid conditions, surrounded by walls covered in faeces. She died of an illness that was very treatable if Jamal had bothered to seek medical attention. What is even more harrowing, is that her GP’s surgery was less than 70 metres away from where she died and could be seen from Nafahat’s bedroom window, so help was within very easy reach.

For the vast majority of parents, to care for, protect and nurture their children is their main priority. However, Jamal was out partying just days before Nafahat’s death and had clearly placed her social life above that of the basic needs of her baby.

There is no sentence long enough to justify the taking of a baby’s life, however I am pleased with the outcome of today’s sentencing. We hope that in some small way, this offers some comfort to Nafahat’s remaining family.

The court heard that police were called on 13 March 2019 by the London Ambulance Service (LAS) who requested assistance to a call made by Jamal stating that her daughter was not breathing.

Officers and the LAS attended and carried out first aid, but despite their best efforts Nafahat was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as a respiratory tract infection (bronchitis complicated with pneumonia).

Upon opening the front door to the property, the officers commented on a strong smell of urine coming from inside.

In the bedroom where Nafahat was found, there was human faeces smeared on the walls and window. Nafahat’s cot had a broken and collapsed side and contained several blankets and duvets. The cot and bedding were all soaked in urine. The cot itself was a travel cot and was not a suitable bed for a child of Nafahat’s age.

In Jamal’s bedroom, officers found mouse droppings on her mattress and human faeces on the walls.

Several of the rooms contained carrier bags full of dirty nappies and plates of rotting food.

Officers searched the kitchen and found hardly any food. The only items in the fridge were two bottles of milk that were nearly empty. In the broken freezer was a melted carton of ice cream. On the windowsill was a container of cooked and congealed pasta that was being used as an ash tray.

Jamal told officers that she had offered Nafahat formula milk earlier that morning but she had refused it. However, officers found no formula milk in the flat.

There were no photos of Nafahat in the property and no toys were found.

The doctor who pronounced Nafahat dead told officers it was a case of neglect.

Jamal was arrested on suspicion of neglect and answered no comment to all questions. Detectives spent months working around the clock to secure evidence against Jamal and as a result she was charged on 17 December 2020 and convicted as above.

 

At last a shop in Quintain's Wembley Park that reflects Brent's diversity - only a 'pop up' but a start

 

On Tuesday 3rd May, the Book & Kulture Pop Up Shop opens its doors to the public in the heart of Wembley Park. Located a stone’s throw away from the iconic Wembley Stadium, Book & Kulture will extend their online offering of diverse books and crafts to those living/working locally in the Wembley Park area. 

 

 

Founder, Vanessa La Rose comments: 

 

Working with Quintain has been amazing and I’m really pleased to be creating an opportunity for Brent residents to access diverse books and crafts. As one of the most diverse boroughs in London, it’s astounding that we will be one of only three independent bookshops in the borough. We hope that by opening our doors we will encourage people to take more of an interest in reading and look at books that feature more reflective characters.

 

Book & Kulture Pop Up Shop 22 Olympic Way
Wembley Park
HA9 0GU

Opening hours;
Mon: Closed
Tues & Wed: 11am – 7pm Thurs, Fri & Sat: 11am – 8pm Sun: 12pm – 6pm