Two new Highways Maintenance contractors take over from Conway in Brent from April

 

The familiar FM Conway vehicles seen across Brent will soon just a memory when two new contractors take over the Borough's Highway Maintenance Contract in April. This is the thrrd of the Public Realm Environment contracts to be awarded.

 

For the purposes of the contract, in an arrangement that looks quite complex in terms of responsibilities, the borough has been split into two areas with O'Hara Bros Surfacing Ltd taking 'Lot 1' and G W Highways Ltd 'Lot 2':

 

Highways Maintenance Works contract: Planned Highways Maintenance
and Highways Schemes; Reactive Highways Maintenance including emergency call-out; and Cyclical and Reactive Gully cleansing.

Scope of Highways Maintenance Works contract Lot 1:
(i) Planned schemes and maintenance work in area 1 of the borough
(ii) Reactive repairs in the whole of the borough
(iii) Occasional planned schemes and maintenance work in the area 2 of the borough – with no guarantee that any such work will be given

Scope of Highways Maintenance Works contract Lot 2:
(i) Planned schemes and maintenance work in area 2 of the borough
(ii) Occasional reactive repairs work across the whole of the borough – with no guarantee that any such work will be given
(iii) Occasional planned schemes and maintenance work in area 1 of the borough – with no guarantee that any such work will be given

 

The combined contracts will be worth £78m over their 10 year duration with an initial contract period of 7 years, with further adjustments for inflation etc.

 

Cabinet are recommended to:

 

1, Approve the award of the contract “Lot 1” for the provision of Highway Maintenance Services to O’Hara Bros Surfacing Ltd for an initial contract period of seven (7) years, with an option to extend for up to a further three (3) years on an annual basis and notes that the value of the contract is estimated to be circa £4.3m per year, or circa £43m over the 10 year duration of the contract (excluding inflation indexation).

 
2. Approve the award of the contract “Lot 2” for the provision of Highway Maintenance Services to GW Highways Ltd for an initial contract period of Seven (7) years, with an option to extend for up to a further three (3) years on an annual basis and notes that the value of the contract is estimated to be circa £3.5m per year, or circa £35m over the 10 year duration of the contract (excluding inflation indexation).

 

Lot 1 represents an increase of 21% over the current Conway contract and 16% for Lot 2. Officers state that prices would have gone up anyway if Conway had continued with the contract. 

 

Officers note an important issue (highlighted):

 

It should be noted that the cost for the Emergency Call Out service, included in Lot 1, has increased substantially from circa £50k per annum to an estimated £240k per annum (the figures are estimated as the total depends on the number of Call Outs incurred). With the current reactive maintenance budget, this will mean that the funding available for the repair of medium priority highway defects will be considerably reduced.

 

There might be some public concern that an initial 7 year contract is quite long if anything goes wrong. Officers' note:

 

The decision to extend the contracts will be based on the respective services being delivered to a minimum satisfactory standard, outlined in up to 12 Primary Performance Indicators and 5 Secondary Performance Indicators, covering the range of services. The PPI for gully cleansing, and the three PPIs for reactive maintenance, would not normally apply to Lot 2 as those services are not expected to be delivered via that contract.

 

 So councillors should be interested in the extent of monitoring of the performance indicators during the 7 years and the actions that would be taken in the event on unsatisfactory performance. The performance indicators have not been published in this report.

 

The report notes that the Highways Consultancy Service contract that inspects highway structures, carries out site investigations and provides surveys and design services is still being worked on.  

 

Names of companies that applied for the contracts have not been published.

Continental Landscapes, part of a Europe wide group, to take over Brent's grounds maintenance contract at c£17.6m over 8 years

One of the posters for Continental Landscapes' 'Fighting Dirty' campaign in partnership with Richmond Council

Brent Council is set to appoint a new contractor for the grounds maintenance of its parks, open spaces, playgrounds, sports pitches, council estate grounds and allotments. Cemeteries are not mentioned but I presume they are also covered.

The appointment of Continental Landscapes follows the decision to separate the public realm contracts into waste management, grounds maintenance and highways. Leaseholders on council estates will be consulted on the progress of the contract.

Park wardens are to be brought in-house, directly employed by Brent Council. 

The contract will be worth £2.2m a year or c£17.6m over the initial 8 year term of the contract and c£35.2m over the full 16 year contract period.

Continental Landscapes website states:

Continental Landscapes was formed in 1989 and is a member of the Krinkels Group, who operate in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and the UK.

Since 1989, we have grown substantially in size and reputation. The company has developed significantly and now has a multi-million pound turnover. Continental Landscapes is involved in every aspect of grounds maintenance, street cleansing and landscaping services. In addition there are a number of divisions within the company offering a comprehensive range of related services.

Continental Landscapes has won many prestigious industry awards. We are also active members of the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) and The Institute of Parks and Green Space (IPGS).

Our core commitments of developing staff from within, creating partnerships with our clients, being respectful to the natural environment and having directly-employed environmental, conservation and biodiversity specialists means we have an embedded culture of respect in every facet of our business.

Continental Landscapes was formed in 1989, a family business that was started to meet the new opportunities afforded by competitive tendering, and over 30 years has grown to be one of the largest specialist providers for high quality parks, open spaces and streets. We are unique in the marketplace in that our flexibility and experience allows us to work on individual one-off projects to city-scale long term projects. In a marketplace that is flooded with multinational companies made up of a portfolio of different businesses, our management team, and the company, are horticulture and street scene specialists. This understanding of the industry from board level to front-line gardener is what sets us apart and allows us to understand our clients and the needs of their customers intimately.

Shackleton’s Antarctic Expedition – your chance to enjoy an historic talk - January 20th

 Guest post by local historian Philip Grant

 

The wreck of the “Endurance”, 2022. (Image from the internet)

 

When the wreck of the “Endurance”, located 3,000 metres down in the Antarctic’s Weddell Sea, was discovered last year, it was the result of a meticulously planned expedition. The pictures, filmed from a robot submarine, were amazing. But this month local residents will have the opportunity to see some more amazing images, taken during Ernest Shackleton’s original Antarctic expedition, between 1914 and 1917, as part of a talk at Wembley History Society, to which interested visitors will be welcome.

 

The talk is a recreation of an original lecture given by Dr Leonard Hussey, a member of the expedition team, about a remarkable adventure. It began as a scientific exploration of the Antarctic, but in 1915 the “Endurance” became trapped in the sea ice, which eventually crushed the sides of the wooden ship. When the ice began to thaw, their vessel sank, and a two-year survival journey began, across ice and sea, before the entire crew were saved.

 

Some of the crew hauling one of the ship’s lifeboats across the ice. (Image from the internet)

 

Towards the end of his life, Dr Hussey passed on the original glass slides from his talk, and his notes, to a new custodian, so that people could continue to see and hear a first-hand account of the expedition’s story. In 2000, Geoff Selley became the latest custodian, and as well as presenting the talk, via powerpoint, he will be bringing some of those glass slides and other artifacts from the expedition, for people to see on 20 January.

 

Frank Hurley filming Antarctic wildlife. (Image from the internet)

 

Leonard Hussey’s words are brought to life by the original pictures taken by the expedition’s photographer, Frank Hurley. Shackleton could not have chosen a better man than this Australian, who not only captured the Antarctic’s wildlife (his original brief), but also the highs and lows of the expedition’s survival story, after disaster struck their ship.

 

Wembley History Society is pleased to be able to offer the chance to attend this talk, not just to its members, but to any local resident, young or old, who may be interested (for a small charge, to help cover costs). Details are on the poster displayed above.

 

Philip Grant.

BREAKING: Veolia to be awarded new integrated Brent Council Public Realm contract worth £137m over 8 years

 The first Brent Council Cabinet of 2023 will be requested to award the new  Integrated Easte Waste Collections and Winter Maintenance contract to Veolia:

[Approve] the award of the Integrated Contract to Veolia Environmental Services UK Ltd for an initial contract period of eight (8) years, with an option to extend for a further eight (8) year contract period in the estimated sum of £17.13m for 2023/24, circa £137m over the initial 8-year term of the contract or circa £274m over the full 16-year contract period.

The new contract introduces a twin stream recycling system of paper and card recycling in bags one week and remaining blue bin recycling in the next week.  There will also be a new small items collection service. Education and Communication on waste services will be provided in-house.

Frequency of street cleaning on a rota basis will be ended and instead there will be an 'intelligence led' response by a Task Force to respond to litter hot-spots.

The webcast of the Public Ream Scrutiny Committee meeting  that considered the issue can be viewed HERE.

The Committee had been concerned about the discrepancy  between the on-line consultation rejection of the changes and the acceptance of the changes in the much smaller face-to-face consultations. An officer had admitted that the street cleansing changes would not produce a better outcome but were made necessary by financial constraints. 

The Cabinet Report states

A report on the Integrated Contract procurement programme was considered by Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 13 December 2022. The Committee's recommendations are included below and these will be taken forward by officers in early 2023.

i) Produce a diagram/flowchart detailing all milestones from May 2019 when the Redefining Local Services (RLS) programme was first initiated.
ii) Review household bulky waste collection charges, including consideration of a sliding scale of charges linked to the number of items to be collected, rather than the current fixed rate of £35 for up to five items.
iii) Undertake a feasibility study on the potential for introducing a mixed approach to paper/card recycling collections, to explore whether any recycling collection rounds in the borough would be more suited to the use of bins rather than sacks.
iv) Arrange a session with ward councillors and Neighbourhood Managers to inform the design and development of the new recycling engagement and communication plan that will accompany the roll out of the new recycling service. 
v) Liaise with the West London Waste Authority to ensure access is reinstated for pedestrians and cyclists at the Abbey Road Household Reuse and Recycling Centre.
vi) Improve collaboration between in-house enforcement teams and collection operatives in identifying fly tipping hot spots and collating evidence, to remove the burden from residents. 

You can judge for yourselves whether the final report to Cabinet takes the recommendations into account.

 I have embedded the full report below. Service changes can be found in 7.4 onwards (Twin Stream Recycling) and in 7.15 onwards ( Intelligence-led Street Cleansing).

 

Opposition to 20metre 5G Mast in Mapesbury Conservation area - consultation closes January 12th

 View of existing area where mast and cabinets would be installed outside 112 Walm Lane [Streetview] Note: Pole in foreground is not the proposed mast.

Mapesbury Conservation Area Border (Brent Council) - Site in red

 The placement of the mast and cabinets

 

The height of the mast against tree and 112 Walm Lane

Editor's Note: There has been a suggestion that there is a petition opposing this mast. I have not seen one and so do not have a link. If you know of one please send the link to wembleymatters@virginmedia.com  Individual responses to the Planning Portal LINK are more effective anyway as I understand petitions are counted as just one objection.

 

The latest controversy over the erection of a 5G roll-out mast is in Willesden Green, just within the Mapesbury Conservation Area border. Although the planning application gives the address of the Queensbury pub (due to be redeveloped) at 110 Walm Lane, the site is actually outside the block of flats at 112 Walm Lane, on the corner of Dartmouth Road.

The proposal sent to neighbouring residents and displayed nearby gives a closing date for comments of Thursday January 12th 2023.

Application Number 22/4004
Location Street Record, Walm Lane, London Proposal Prior approval for proposed 5G telecommunications installation comprising a 20m street pole and additional equipment cabinets on footpath adjacent to 110 Walm Lane, London, NW2 4RS (Part 16 of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) and is in accordance with the Electronic Communications Code (as amended))

You may comment on-line by using the ‘make comments’ tab or by e-mailing planning.comments@brent.gov.uk. Make sure you provide the application  number, your name and postal address. Your comments and address will be publically available, although your name won’t be. You may check what the final decision is by selecting “track application” on our website.

Please make your comment by 12/01/2023; after that we will make a decision on the proposal as soon as possible.

As with all such proposals the default position is approval to aid the roll-out of 5G transmission as part of the government's diginal vision. The applicant states:

The proposed installation supports the UK Government Digital connectivity vision and provide a basis for support from the local planning authority to speed up digital infrastructure rollout set by Ministers on 27 August 2020. Such development will facilitate educational benefits, providing access to vital services, improving communications with the associated commercial benefits for local businesses, enabling e-commerce and working from home as well as enjoying access to social, media and gaming for leisure time activities.
In accordance with the requirement set within National Planning Policy Framework (February 2019) guidelines; the proposed ‘Streetworks’ design has been selected to minimise visual impact upon the street scene by integrating with existing street furniture.

 

The applicant claims their proposal meets Brent Council's criteria for 5G installations but note the final point regarding Conservation Areas.

One local resident has submitted a comprehensive Objection:

This proposal is completely misguided and should be rejected.

It would create an unacceptably intrusive, overbearing and incongruous feature at a very prominent location, wholly out of scale and inconsistent with nearby buildings and structures, and would materially impact the character and appearance of the Mapesbury Conservation Area and the Willesden Green Conservation Area, as well as of Willesden Green Station and St. Gabriel's Church, both grade II listed buildings.

It's extraordinary that the applicant has managed to find a site for this 20 metre mast that would materially impact the character and appearance of not just one but two separate conservation areas and two separate grade II listed buildings.

Further, while the applicant asserts that the site is outside of the Mapesbury Conservation Area, according to the official map of the Mapesbury Conservation Area (https://legacy.brent.gov.uk/media/16402740/mapesbury-conservation-area-map.jpg) the boundary of the conservation area runs down the middle of Walm Lane and therefore the site is within the conservation area. In any event our comments are relevant regardless of whether the site is or not within the conservation area: if outside it would still be on the boundary of the conservation area and would have just as a material impact on the visual amenity and character of the conservation area as if it was inside it.

In more detail, my objection is based on the following:

(A) The mast would be very significantly taller than all surrounding housing. At 20 metres it would be almost double the height of the adjacent Westerly Court (11 metres), which itself is taller than all other surrounding housing on the north side of the railway, and more than double the height of street lighting and trees.

(B) The mast would be very close to the top of the hill, which would increase even more its actual and perceived height compared to the surrounding housing, including the two conservation areas.

(C) The mast would be located in a corner plot, increasing its visibility and prominence.

(D) The mast would be directly in line with the north face of Westly Court, meaning that its entire height would be visible from the whole north side of Dartmouth Road.

Factors (A), (B), (C) and (D) will exacerbate the visual prominence of the mast which will be seen over a wide area. It is likely that it would be visible from every first or second floor south facing window in the Mapesbury Conservation Area.

The streetview up and down Walm Lane between St. Gabriel's Church and the top of the hill where Willesden Green Station is located is a critical and integral element of the Mapesbury Conservation Area's character and appearance. Further, the northward streetview up Walm Lane and across the top of the hill in front of the Willesden Green Station is a critical and integral elements of the Willesden Green Conservation Area character and appearance. Both of these would be completely ruined by the mast, which would tower above and overbear all of these views.

(E) The mast would be in very close proximity (70 metres - 3.5 times its height) to Willesden Green Station, which is a Grade II listed building, and would significantly impact the appearance of the station and of the open space in front of it (which is part of the Willesden Green Conservation Area) when approaching from the north (from the Mapesbury Conservation Area) and the south (through the Willesden Conservation Area).

(F) The mast would be right in the straight line of sight between Willesden Green Station and St. Gabriel's Church, which is also a Grade II listed building and is located about 10 meters lower down the hill (meaning that it would tower above the church in the background when approaching the church southwards along Walm Lane).

The applicant has taken no account in its application of the fact that the visual amenity and character of two Grade II listed buildings will be materially impacted by the proposal, as set out in (E) and (F) above.

(G) Finally, given that the applicant has taken no account of the above factors in the design of the mast (other than to say that the site is outside of a conservation area, which appears to be inaccurate and in any event is immaterial), the proposal itself does not comply with the design principles set out in the Code of Best Practice on Mobile Network Development in England (2016 Edition) - in particular those set out in Appendix A.

While not directly relevant to my objection to the application, I would also like to highlight that:

- The area in the vicinity of the site is already very well served by broadband internet and further developments are currently ongoing (e.g. Hyperoptic is currently installing fibre underground throughout the conservation area), so there is no "critical need" for this 5g infrastructure, notwithstanding what the applicant says in its application. This should be taken into account when considering the balance between the need for this specific 5g mast and other public policy considerations (such as public amenity) when assessing this application.

- The proposed siting of the equipment boxes at the street level is completely irrational. It is proposed that they will be located in the middle of the public footpath, significantly reducing the available space for pedestrians and other users. What is the applicant's rationale for occupying so much footpath space and inconveniencing pedestrians, rather than siting the boxes beside the existing boxes on the east edge of the footpath?

- There is already a telecoms mast located along the train line on the south side of the Tube railway tracks, adjacent to Lydford Road. Given the presence of multiple conservation areas and listed buildings in the vicinity of the proposed mast, what consideration has the applicant given to reinforcing and/or sharing that mast, consistent with the requirements of the Code of Best Practice on Mobile Network Development in England (2016 Edition), or otherwise siting the mast along the railway at a suitable distance from the existing tower, where it would not be as much an eyesore?

- There is already a telecoms mast located along the train line on the south side of the railway tracks, adjacent to Lydford Road. Given the presence of multiple conservation areas and listed buildings in the vicinity of the proposed mast, what consideration has the applicant given to reinforcing and/or sharing that mast, consistent with the requirements of the Code of Best Practice on Mobile Network Development in England (2016 Edition), or otherwise siting the mast along the railway at a suitable distance from the existing tower, where it would not be as much an eyesore?

 Regarding alternatives, as suggested by some of the Objectors, including updating existing masts in the area, the Applicant states:

The very nature of installing new 5G mast infrastructure within such an urban setting requires a highly considered balance between the need to extend practical coverage reach with that of increasing risk of visual amenity intrusion. In this location, existing mast sites are not capable of supporting additional equipment compliment to extend coverage reach across the target area and prospective ‘in-fill’ mast sites are extremely limited.

There is an acute need for a new base station to provide effective service coverage and in this case, the height of the proposed street pole is the minimum required to bring the benefits of 5G to this area.

XR announce a tactical change for 2023 - disruption no longer the primary tactic: 'relationships over roadblocks'

 In a press release this morning Extinction Rebellion announce a move away from disruption as a primary tactic. They say:

When XR burst onto the scene four years ago, few could have imagined the seismic shift it would bring about in the climate movement, the climate conversation, and the world at large. 

But despite the blaring alarm on the climate and ecological emergency ringing loud and clear, very little has changed. Emissions continue to rise and our planet is dying at an accelerated rate. 

The root causes? A financial system prioritising profits over life, a media failing to inform the public and hold power to account, and a reckless government entrenched in corruption and suppressing the right to protest injustice.

As we ring in the new year, we make a controversial resolution to temporarily shift away from public disruption as a primary tactic. We recognise and celebrate the power of disruption to raise the alarm and believe that constantly evolving tactics is a necessary approach. What’s needed now most is to disrupt the abuse of power and imbalance, to bring about a transition to a fair society that works together to end the fossil fuel era. Our politicians, addicted to greed and bloated on profits won’t do it without pressure.

We must be radical in our response to this crisis and determined in our efforts to address the climate and ecological emergency, even if it means taking a different approach than before. In a time when speaking out and taking action are criminalised, building collective power, strengthening in number and thriving through bridge-building is a radical act. XR is committed to including everyone in this work and leaving no one behind, because everyone has a role to play. This year, we prioritise attendance over arrest and relationships over roadblocks, as we stand together and become impossible to ignore.

The conditions for change in the UK have never been more favourable – it’s time to seize the moment. The confluence of multiple crises presents us with a unique opportunity to mobilise and move beyond traditional divides. No one can do this alone, and it’s the responsibility of all of us, not just one group. It may be uncomfortable or difficult, but the strength of all social, environmental, and justice movements lies in working together. As our rights are stripped away and those speaking out and most at risk are silenced, we must find common ground and unite to survive.

It’s no secret that those in power are hoarding wealth and power at the expense of ordinary people, while ignoring the consequences of their greed. Emissions continue to rise, but they couldn’t care less. But people do care, and changes to democracy that free and empower the voices of the people through Citizens Assemblies could balance the tables and bring about the positive societal tipping point we all need.

Choose Your Future – 21st April and beyond – The Big One – Houses of Parliament – 100,000 people. 

Read more here.

An Olympic Games tile mural – let’s get it back on permanent display!

 Guest post by local Historian Philip Grant in a personal capacity

 

On 1 January 2022 I shared with you an open letter that I’d sent to Quintain’s Chief Executive Officer, seeking his agreement that his company would not seek to renew its advertisement consent, covering the tile murals on the walls of Olympic Way. I thought I’d made a good case, and was very pleased to receive a positive response two months later.

 

The sports tile murals on the east wall of Olympic Way, back on display in August 2022.

 

As well as uncovering the American Football, Rugby League and Ice Hockey tile mural scenes in 2022, Quintain’s Wembley Park company also commissioned a new mural. This replaced the missing section of the former “Live Aid” mural, beside the drummer which was the only section left of the original 1993 design. Since it was completed last November, Paul Marks’s “Reverb” mural has been added to the Wembley Park Art Trail.

 

The ”Reverb” tile mural, nearing completion in November 2022.

 

Regular readers will know that Wembley History Society has been campaigning since April 2018 to get Quintain and Brent Council to put all of the Bobby Moore Bridge tile murals, celebrating Wembley’s sports and entertainment heritage, back on permanent public display. Our first success was the mural scene in the subway, showing England footballers playing at the “twin towers” Wembley Stadium, which was left uncovered when Quintain (with Brent Council’s consent) replaced their vinyl advertising sheets in the subway with LED light panels.

 

The “Footballers” mural, flanked by LED light panels.

 

Now, 2023 provides an opportunity to get another of the subway’s mural scenes back on display. As well as marking the centenary of the original Wembley Stadium, the year will also be the 75^th anniversary of the 1948 London Olympic Games, for which Olympic Way was built. I hope that it will also see the mural celebrating those Games uncovered, in recognition of that important part of Wembley’s sporting heritage.

 

The Olympic Torch tile mural, beside a photograph from the 1948 Games opening ceremony.

 

So, this New Year I’ve sent another open letter to Quintain’s Chief Executive Officer, James Saunders. This is its full text:

 

This is an open letter

1 January 2023

Dear Mr Saunders, 

 

The 1948 Olympic Torch tile mural at Bobby Moore Bridge, Wembley Park.

 

Happy New Year! 2022 was a good year for Olympic Way, and I am hoping that, with your support, 2023 can be even better.

 

Following my 1 January 2022 letter to you, and your reply of 2 March, it was good to see the three sporting tile mural scenes on the east wall of Olympic Way back on permanent display from August 2022. They have been appreciated and enjoyed by residents and visitors ever since. More recently, the “Reverb” mural by Paul Marks, on the opposite wall beside the original drummer, has brightened up that space, although I must admit to some disappointment that it could not have related more closely with the “Live Aid” stadium concert theme.

 

During 2022, I have continued to work with Quintain’s Wembley Park team on projects to promote the history of Olympic Way. There are several additions to enhance the sharing of that history with visitors nearing completion, but I am writing to suggest another one.

 

In April 2023 we will celebrate the centenary of the original Wembley Stadium, and in July 2023 the 75^th anniversary of the 1948 London Olympic Games, for which Olympic Way was built. One of the tile murals in the Bobby Moore Bridge subway, the first scene on the left as you come down the steps from the station, was designed to celebrate that heritage at the start of the famous route to the stadium:-

 

This mural, which depicts an Olympic torch relay runner on his way to the stadium for the opening ceremony of the 1948 Games, with the Olympic flag behind him, is currently hidden behind LED light panels. My suggestion is that this mural scene should be uncovered, and put on display for the 75^th anniversary in July 2023 (and hopefully, permanently). 

 

The Olympic Torch mural is next to the “footballers” mural scene, which is already on display, so that it should not be too difficult to extend the lighting “frame” around that scene to include this mural celebrating the 1948 Olympic Games at Wembley Park, once the three or four light panels covering it, and their supports, have been removed.

 

I will email a digital copy of this letter to members of your team at Wembley Park, who I am already in touch with over other local history enhancements for Olympic Way. 

 

I look forward to hearing from you that displaying the Olympic Games mural scene will be another addition to those enhancements by the summer of 2023. Thank you.

 

Yours sincerely,

Philip Grant.