Quintain sells off Wembley Arena

 

From Quintain Ltd

 Quintain, the developer and asset manager behind Wembley Park, confirms that it has completed the sale of the OVO Arena Wembley to Intermediate Capital Group (ICG). This forms part of Quintain’s strategy to focus activities going forward on build to rent residential across development and asset management, neighbourhood retail and placemaking.

Built in 1934, the OVO Arena Wembley (formerly Wembley Arena) has played host to some of the world’s most famous artists, including David Bowie, Queen, Abba, Britney Spears and Beyonce. It is the venue where artists love to stand on stage and shout “Hello, Wembley!”.

Purchased by Quintain in 2002 as part of an initial acquisition of 44 acres of land in Wembley Park, the OVO Arena Wembley was transformed by Quintain in 2006 with a £36m refurbishment which, along with the new stadium, cemented Wembley’s position as one of the premier UK locations for live music and entertainment.

Built as the “Empire Pool” in 1934 to host swimming events for the Empire Games, the Arena has also hosted events for both the 1948 and 2012 Olympics. Today the Arena typically hosts 120 events a year across sport, music, comedy and entertainment.

With a capacity of 12,500, the Arena is the second largest in London and is operated by ASM Global, the leading entertainment venue operator, with a portfolio of over 350 venues worldwide.

James Saunders, CEO of Quintain, said: “As we build out the Wembley Park estate, with 3,000 more homes still to deliver, we continue to focus our efforts on our Build to Rent ambition, neighbourhood retail and placemaking. Naturally, we will work with ICG and ASM to ensure that the world-famous OVO Arena Wembley will remain an important part of this world class destination and neighbourhood.”

Andreas Papadolambakis of ICG Real Estate, said: “We’re delighted to be the new custodians of the iconic OVO Arena and to be partnering with ASM, a globally renowned arena operator. The investment represents ICG Real Estate’s first in the content and live entertainment space, a sector which is benefitting from structural tailwinds. As music consumption has pivoted towards streaming, touring has become increasingly important for artists whilst consumers are dedicating an increasing portion of their disposable income to experiences over material goods. We expect this to be the first of a programme of investments in the European content and live entertainment market.”

Chris Bray, Executive VP Europe of ASM Global, said: “Quintain have been excellent landlords for the OVO Arena for the last 20 years and we thank them for their stewardship. We look forward to working with new owners, ICG, to enhance Britain’s most iconic arena and continue to bring world class acts and artists to this world-famous entertainment district.”

Greens question London Mayor on bus driver toilet facilities as Unite explore legal action on industrial bladder injury

 

Wembley Matters recently published a guest post by Lorraine Robertson about the difficulties faced by London bus drivers due to lack of toilet facilities on bus routes LINK.

Now Green AM Caroline Russell has put down two questions for Sadiq Khan for the September 15th session. The first relates directly to some of the issues Lorraine raised: 

A bus driver has raised with me that some bus routes still do not have adequate toilet facilities, with more than 25 per cent of routes not having a toilet at either the beginning of the route or the terminus. There are also inconsistencies in provision of toilets, where facilities are either not open during drivers working hours, toilets are not free or access to them relies on security personal or other staff to access certain buildings. This is a particularly acute issue for drivers who are menstruating, and some very distressing cases have been reported to me that have impacted the dignity of bus drivers. Will you review provision of toilets on all bus routes and make a commitment to having accessible, clean facilities that are open during all the hours drivers are working on all bus routes, to protect the health and dignity of all bus staff?

The second question is specifically about the 206 bus route that runs from Kilburn Park to The Paddocks in Wembley Park:

A constituent has raised an issue with the lack of toilet provision for drivers on the 206 bus route. While there is a toilet near the beginning of the route at Kilburn Park Station, this is not constantly accessible as it requires station staff to open it for drivers. At the route terminus (The Paddocks, Wembley Park) there are no toilets. Will Transport for London (TfL) look into urgently providing a toilet at the terminus of this route?

Meanwhile Sharon Graham, General Secretary of Unite the Union, addressing combined bus workers about their conditions said:

 It is also why we are looking to mount legal cases on industrial bladder injuries many bus drivers have faced for years due to lack of toilet facilities.

It is easy to make jokes about such matters but they are actually serious health and safety and medical issues with long-term consequences.  Many workers are on the road for hours at a time and the decline in the number of public toilets does not help.  Delivery drivers, under pressure of delivery targets,  often resort to carrying bottles to urinate in as they go about their work, easier for men than women, but not ideal for anyone.

A problem that is usually hidden so it is good to seeing it raised as a health and  safety and workers' dignity issue.

 

Brent Council running recycling trial for 5,000 selected properties. Monday Oct 3rd to Friday Nov 25th - Details

 From Brent Council

We are running a recycling trial which will see temporary changes to the way recycling is collected at around 5,000 properties in Brent.

The trial will test the effectiveness of spliting recycling into to two separate bins, one with paper and carboard and one with containers (milk jugs, jars, tins etc.). This is on a small scale, so we can better understand the potential impacts it may have on residents, recycling rates and waste contamination.

The trial takes place over an eight week period between Monday, 3 October and Friday, 25 November as part of a trial of the proposed alternate weekly recycling service that the council recently consulted on.

Properties taking part in the trial have been sent a letter with all of the relevant information. These properties will be given a reusable, weatherproof blue sack to separate their paper and card into. The current blue-lidded recycling bin is to continue to be used for containers like plastic, tins and glass.

The paper and card sack will be collected on an alternate week to the usual recycling bin. For example:

• week 1 – we collect your paper and card sack
• week 2 – we collect your recycling bin.

Why are we carrying out this trial in Brent?

In March 2023, the current waste collections contract that Brent Council operates will come to an end. We are taking this opportunity to review and consider changes to the recycling collections service you receive, and the system being trialled in your area is the Council’s preferred choice of service for the new contract. This is for several reasons:

1. Changes to national policy resulting from the Environment Act 2021 will probably require us to make changes to the way we provide recycling services in Brent.
2. This trial aims to improve the quality and quantity of recycling from households. From the recent borough-wide Let’s Talk Climate conversation, residents told us they want to do their bit to live more sustainably and help Brent become carbon neutral by 2030. Managing our waste differently will help us to achieve this.
3. The new system being tested will help the council to save money while delivering an improved recycling collection system, as we continue to recover financially from the impact of the pandemic, rising prices, a growing population and a reduction in the funding the Council gets from the government.

Residents that have not received a letter from the council about the consultation are not taking part in the trial and will not receive a blue sack.

Please read our FAQ document if you have more questions about the trail.

Children's Polio Boosters now available at Brent Civic Centre for children aged 5 - 9

 From Brent Council

POLIO BOOSTER JABS Book via Eventbrite for appointments up until Sunday 11 September: http://ow.ly/Fw2250KBXb0 A new appointment system will be in place for booking slots next week and beyond. Walk-ins also accepted, depending on availability.

Cabinet poised to approve consultation plans for Islamia Primary to move to Strathcona site with additional build and land transfer agreed with the Yusuf Islam Foundation

Monday's Cabinet meeting will be discussing proposals to move the Islamia Primary School (IPS) from its Queens Park site to the Strathcona site in Kingsbury.  The Yusuf Islam Foundation had give the school and Brent Council notice to quit the site. Strathcona had become available following Brent Council's decision to close the Roe Green primary provision there despite a spirited fight by staff and parents. It was earmarked for  post-16 SEND provision but if the Islamia move is approved another site will have to be found for that provision.

Islamia parents launched a petition opposing the move to Queens Park (see this Wembley Matters article) on the grounds that it would be to the detriment of local parents and pupils in terms of travel and instead suggested the South Kilburn regeneration site earmarked for Kilburn Park Junior School and Carlton Vale Infants be allocated to Islamia Primary.

The officers' report responds:

A parent of children who attend IPS put a petition on the Council’s e-petition portal between 13 July and 18 August 2022 that called for the new school in South Kilburn that will be built as part of the South Kilburn Regeneration Scheme to be allocated to IPS. The petition had 509 signatories. The new South Kilburn School is a key part of the infrastructure of the South Kilburn Regeneration Scheme and will provide a community school that will provide primary provision for families of all faiths within the area. The school is replacing Carlton Vale Infant School and Kilburn Park Junior School and the sites of these schools will be used to provide new housing and green space, respectively. The schools have been working with a design team over the past two years to develop the project to meet the school and local community’s needs. The new South Kilburn School will not be available until September 2026, whereas the Foundation is requiring IPS to vacate its current site by the end of July 2024.

No reason is given for the Foundation's decision to issue an eviction order on the council and school and its website still boasts about the school and its achievements. However officers report that they did not engage in proposals to improve the Salusbury Road site:

The Council has undertaken significant and extensive efforts since 2015 to build a new primary school building on the existing Salusbury Road site. The Council identified capital funding to the sum of £10.01m, including ring fenced funding secured from the Education Skills and Funding Agency (ESFA) of £2.8m, to meet the then demand for primary school places. Design development for the new-build school was completed in 2015, funded from the ESFA contribution. The Foundation decided not to proceed with these plans and for the past seven years has not responded positively to the Council’s attempts to revisit the build proposals.

The report states:

The Council has resisted the validity of the [Eviction] notices since receiving them and has repeatedly asked the Foundation to withdraw them so that the Council, the Foundation and IPS can concentrate their efforts on reaching an accommodation which suits all involved. The Foundation has agreed to withdraw the notices on the condition that the Council, the Yusuf Islam Foundation and IPS entered into an agreement to surrender and deed of surrender (sic) from the Salusbury Road site. These agreements, which are subject to final negotiations, are based on the premise that:

a) the Foundation withdraws and/or does not seek to enforce the eviction notices;

b)  Providing the statutory procedures (as required by SSFA 1998) once concluded confirm it is feasible to do so, the School will be relocated to a new site;c)  IPS will be able to remain in situ whilst the identified site, the Strathcona site, is prepared for the relocation;   

d)  IPS will vacate the Foundation’s Salusbury Road premises by 31 July 2024 

e)  A long-stop date of 1 January 2025 is in place should there be any unforeseen delay (for example a delay in any building works);

f)  Any new site will be transferred to trustees prior to the School taking up occupation in the new site. Officers will need to negotiate and agree Heads of Terms setting out the main terms the parties agree in respect of the proposed transfer of Council owned land for any new site earmarked for the School to occupy 

 

The Foundation has now agreed to delay the eviction until July 2024 and the council will agree a lease on the Strathcona site with the Foundation's trustees.  Although voluntary religious organisations are expected  by the DfE to make a contribution the officers' report notes:

The DfE expects Voluntary Aided bodies to contribute towards capital works that improve their school buildings at a rate of 10% of total costs. Conversations would need to be held with the Yusuf Islam Foundation and IPS about a contribution towards new facilities. No assumptions about a contribution have been included in the costs above.

The parents' concerns about travel to the Strathcona site are not directly addressed but officers' report:

Officers met on 5 April 2022 with Preston Ward members and the Lead Member for Schools, Employment and Skills to discuss transport options for the Strathcona site with the intention of making school related journeys (i.e. school drop off and pick up) car free. Officers met with Queens Park Ward members and the Lead Member for Children, Young People and Schools on 15 July 2022 to brief them on the proposed relocation of IPS.

After considering the options officers recommend  a proposal to retain and refurbish all buildings on the Strathcona site and build a new block to meet the requirements for a 2 form entry (60 children per year group) school.  

They recommend that this would meet the Council's statutory duty to provide a diversity of school places, provide a new site to enable Islamia to retain its 'Good' Ofsted rating and ensure chidren have a high quality learning environment.

£10.01m was allocated 7 years ago for a new build school and costs have of course gone up since then. The part refurbish existing buildings and part new build proposal is costed at £9.11m:

 

 

To these costs must be added the cost of the post-16 SEND provision in terms of the overall Brent Council budget. It would have been on Council owned land and may now need the purchase of a site on the open market.

The building finances are far from simple:

There is currently £2m of unallocated funding available in the Basic Need grant following Cabinet approval of the SEND Capital Programme Business Case in January 2022. Therefore, assuming project funding includes the £2.6m Targeted Capital Fund -TCF [carried over from previous proposal] from DfE and £2m basic need grant, £4.51m is required from alternative funds to deliver the preferred option. Council borrowing has been identified and subject to Cabinet approval could be used for this project. Borrowing £4.51m would result in an additional revenue cost of circa £0.3m per annum. This would need to be reflected through the budget setting process for revenue.

 If the DfE do not allow the council to use the TCF funding for this project, then £7.11m would be required through Council borrowing. The additional revenue cost of borrowing £7.11m would be circa £0.45m per annum. This would need to be reflected through the budget setting process for revenue.

If Cabinet approve the Governing Board will need to manage the statutory consultation process about the move which may not be an easy task given that 509 people signed the parents' petition. There may well be representations about the issues involved at Monday's Cabinet.

The new Home Secretary's Brent (Kenton and Wembley) connections

 Suella Braverman

 

This article was published on Wembley Matters in 2020, LINK when Suella Braverman was appointed by Boris Johnson. It was submitted by someone who was at school with her. It sheds some light on the new Home Secretary and her ambitions.

Following Boris Johnson's appointment of Suella Braverman (nee Fernandes) as attorney general (shortly after she attacked judges as unelected and unaccountable) it is interesting to hear from someone who was at school with her in the 1990s:

 

Sue Ellen Fernandes (who prefers to be known as Suella, so as not to be compared to a character in the 1980's TV series "Dallas") grew up in Kenton.

 

Her mother was a Conservative councillor on Brent Council, Uma Fernandes (who, as a candidate for Parliament, managed third place in the Brent East by-election won by Sarah Teather in 2003).

 

By the sixth form at school, Suella was open about her ambition to be a Conservative M.P., and to become Prime Minister, like her idol, Margaret Thatcher.

 

She studied law at Cambridge, and went on to become a barrister, specialising in planning law, but also spending time trying to get selected as a Conservative Parliamentary candidate.

 

One of the roles that helped on her Tory CV was acting as Chair of Governors for Katherine Birbalsingh's Michaela Community School LINK, although her knowledge of planning law did not seem to cover the fact that consent was needed to display a large advertisement over its building in Wembley Park LINK:

 

The advert had to be taken down after a few days - a waste of taxpayers money that could have been avoided!

Suella was elected for the "safe" Conservative seat of Fareham in Hampshire in 2015. Now, at the age of 39, this "aspirational" junior barrister has been appointed by Boris Johnson as the Government's top legal adviser.

 

Heaven help us!

 Seven years earlier I wrote on Wembley Matters about an encounter I had with her at a 'consultation' about Michaela Free School which is quite revealing of her attitude towards the public. LINK

 

Suella is a daughter of former Brent Conservative councillor Uma Fernandes who was a councillor for 16 years and stood in the Brent East parliamentary constituency, and Suella herself stood as a Conservative candidate in Fryent ward. She attended a local Brent primary school, Uxendon Manor, but her secondary education was at Heathfield School in Pinner - a Girls Public Day School Trust establishment.

Fuel Poverty Action asks the new Prime Minister 3 challenging questions

Fuel Poverty Action has today written an open letter [1] to incoming Prime Minister Liz Truss, posing three questions about her response to the energy crisis that threatens to plunge millions of people into fuel poverty, causing cold, hunger, and destitution on a scale unseen for generations.  .

The first question is: Who will benefit from the policies to be announced this week, widely expected to include a taxpayer bail-out in the form of holding prices down.  We point out that the savings from such a move will largely accrue to people who can afford to use a lot of energy, while people who are barely putting the heating on will save very little.  Nor does the public have faith that we will benefit from a government loan based on a fantasy of a crisis-free future.  

The second question is: Who will pay? Will it be the taxpayer, at the expense of expenditure on welfare benefits, health, and housing?  Or will it be the energy companies, now enjoying undreamed of excess profits?  Will the Prime Minister’s energy policy address the fact that many of the suppliers claiming that they can’t sell energy for less than the wholesale prices they pay, are an arm of the very companies choosing to charge these prices? The letter says, “Asking taxpayers to pick up the tab for the obscene prices they are charging is the latest idea [2] from an extortionate industry that puts its profits before people's lives, and is ready to sacrifice even the planet we live on.” 

The third is: Will she implement FPA’s flagship proposal of Energy For All – a free allocation of energy to cover each household’s needs for essentials like heating, lighting and cooking. Energy For All would be paid for by

• higher tariffs on higher use - beyond needs
• windfall taxes, which could almost cover the support package the new Prime Minister is expected to announce [3], and
• an end to fossil fuel subsidies from the public purse, which amount to millions of pounds every day, and further swell the coffers of wealthy individuals and extraction of a polluting, expensive fuel.

This would have the benefit of encouraging responsible energy consumption, encouraging the introduction of energy saving measures and promoting green energy investment. Unlike most of the proposals being put forward it would be at the same time universal and targeted, turning rightside-up the current upside-down energy pricing system, where you pay more per unit of energy when you use less of it. 

The concept of Energy For All has captured the public's enthusiasm and brought new hope.. More and more organisations including the TUC are now coming out with similar schemes, and a petition signed by over 550,000 people will be handed into Downing Street at 1.00 pm on September 19th, with supporters  gathering beforehand at an event including speakers. 

 

[1] https://www.fuelpovertyaction.org.uk/news/fpa-writes-to-the-new-prime-minister-about-her-energy-policy-and-the-cost-of-living-disaster/

[2] Energy UK has proposed that taxpayers foot the bill for struggling businesses to meet their surging bills in a plan that could cost anywhere between £50bn and £100bn. https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/energy-companies-plan-businesses-winter-pay-bills-leaked-letter-1827585

[3] https://www.taxjustice.uk/blog/44bn-a-year-could-be-raised-from-higher-tax-on-oil-and-gas-profits

No response from Brent Council to Audit's concerns over potential conflict of interest in First Wave Housing and i4B Holdings

Wembley Matters recently drew attention to the Brent Council Internal Audit that found a possible conflict of interest in the directorships of Brent's housing companies First Wave Housing and i4B Holdings. See LINK. Wembley Matters drew attention to the role of the councillor director Saqib Butt, who is the brother of the Leader of Brent Council as well as Brent Council officers.  

Brent Council responded to the Audit:  Management Response: We will review job descriptions to identify and mitigate conflicts of interest.

The Internal Audit found 5 medium risks the first of which said:

Responsibilities for Council employees working for the companies: The management and two of the five directors of the companies are employed by the Council and line managed within the Council. This may create a conflict of interest as management may feel they need to represent the interests of the Council rather than the companies. These responsibilities need to be clarified to ensure that these conflicts are effectively managed, and the companies are robustly represented in disputes with the Council.

Proposed changes to the Board membership and governance arrangements for both companies are tabled for Cabinet on September 12th. The officer's report makes no mention of resolving the potential conflict of interest and merely substitutes one Brent Council officer,  Phil Porter, Corporate Director for Adult Social Care, for another, Gail Tolley, who steps down from the boards following her retirement as Strategic Director for Children and Young People.

The Independent Chair, Martin Smith's and Independent Non-executive Director. Akimntoye's terms of office are recommended to be extended for another 3 years. 

As Peter Gadson, Corporate Director, Residents Srrvices stays on the board, it means that three of the five directors are either Brent employees or a Brent councillor. 

No mention is made of the Council's promise to review job descriptions and mitigate conflicts of interest. Instead the Cabinet's overall control of both companies is emphasised:  

As sole Shareholder for i4B and the sole Guarantor for FWH, the Council has an important role in providing strategic direction for the companies and retains control of key decisions. Cabinet is the strategic supervisory body with ultimate responsibility for ensuring governance of the companies and the power to appoint and dismiss Directors and the Company Secretary are reserved to Cabinet. Cabinet therefore has the power to agree the Recommendations contained in this report