Drop into the Willesden Green Nest Cafe and purchase a postcard by a local artist to help raise cancer research funds (the coffee is good too!)

'Nest Cafe, Willesden Green', 2024 (Tim Danby)

 

Willesden Green artist Tim Danby is raising funds for Haematology Cancer Care at the University College London Hospital through sales of a postcard of his original painting. 'Nest Cafe, Willesden Green' 2024.

Tim painted the scene at The Nest Cafe between two bouts of Lymphoa.  The picture is on display with other UCLH Patients' Art work until 9th July in the Hospital .

Postcards of the painting are available from The Nest Cafe at Willesden Green Underground Station at a suggested price of 50p.

Tim told Wembley Matters:

I am not a famous artist. I am just happy to promote the Cancer Charity, the Nest Cafe and simply present a positive and sunny image of Willesden in these fraught times.

 

FA and WFA Cup Finals this weekend - full road closures from 12.30pm on Saturday and 9.30am on Sunday, bus diversions both days DETAILS

 

Standing ovation for inaugural speech by Brent's youngest ever Mayor: 'This is modern Brent'

 

 

Cllr Ryan Hack is Brent's youngest ever Mayor and at yesterday's Mayoral Ceremony made the best speech I have heard in Brent for many a long year.

Brent Council approves Nablus Twinning Partnership to build peace and cooperation

Brent Council last night overwhelmingly approved a twinning protocol and an historic twinning arrangement with the Palestinian city of Nablus.  

The Conservative Group voted against the twinning proposal and the Liberal Democrats abstained. Some Labour members who might have been expected to have reservations were amongst those who gave apologies for absence.

The reasons Conservative members gave for opposition varied from suggesting 'why not other cities or communities' to allegations from Cllr Maurice that Nablus was controlled by Hamas and the association could damage Brent's reputation. 

The Lib Dems and Cllr Kennelly were concerned about attitudes towards gay people in Nablus, although Cllr Kennelly did say he understood that restrictive laws had been repealed. For the Lib Dems, Cllr Lorber asked for undertakings from the Nablus authorities that gay people would be safe there.  If such undertakings were received they would not oppose the twinning.

 Cllr Ithesham Afzal speaking last night

In his speech supporting the twinning initiative Cllr Afzal said: 

Today is a momentous and proud day for Brent,This twinning is for them. For the children who grow up with the weight of occupation, yet still dream of a brighter future, a future of freedom. Because we don’t just speak of values—we live them. We don't just care about change; we make it happen.

Responding to the decision, supported by nearly 2,000 residents and several grassroots Brent organisations, he said

This twinning is about more than symbolism—it is a commitment to shared values, mutual understanding, and global solidarity at a time when so many are looking away. Brent is standing up and showing what it means to build peace and cooperation from the ground up.

 

Members of the Brent-Nablus Twinning Association with Mayor and councillors after the meeting

 

Welcoming the Council's decision the Brent-Nablus Twinning Association pointed out that as a community-driven initiative, the twinning will be independently funded and will not place any strain on council resources. It will instead harness  partnerships and grassroots support to fund and facilitate exchanges and joint programmes. 

The Association explained:

The partnership will include school and youth programmes, artist collaborations, digital storytelling, and community events, designed to foster understanding, celebrate shared culture, and raise awareness of the daily realities faced by Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Nablus—an ancient and resilient city in the northern West Bank with a population of over 150,000—is a centre of Palestinian culture, learning, and heritage. Brent, home to the second-largest Arab diaspora in England and Wales, has long stood as one of the UK’s most diverse and internationally minded boroughs.

Roe Green Walled Garden Open Day Saturday May 17th 11am - 4pm

 

1 Morland Gardens – an open letter to two key Cabinet members

 Guest post by local historian, Philip Grant, in a personal capacity 

 

Altamira, the beautiful Victorian villa at 1 Morland Gardens in Stonebridge.

 

Last month, I wrote a guest post asking you to sign the Willesden Local History Society petition, calling on Brent Council and its Cabinet to retain Altamira, the 150-year old Italianate-style Victorian villa in Stonebridge, as part of its forthcoming plans for redevelopment of the former Brent Start college site at 1 Morland Gardens. That petition is still open, until 26 May, and if you haven’t signed it yet I would encourage you to do so, please. You can do that HERE.

 

The Local Democracy Reporter for our area wrote an article about the petition, which was published online on MyLondon, but for some reason has not been published by the Brent & Kilburn Times (nor was a letter sent in by the Society’s Secretary published – strange when that is the local newspaper for Brent!). As part of his research, he asked Brent Council whether they still planned to demolish the locally-listed heritage building, as they originally proposed in 2020. The answer he received was ‘we don’t know yet.’

 

That seems very odd, as Brent has been carrying out a review of its future plans for the Morland Gardens site since November 2023! Were they just covering themselves, as no formal decision has yet been made by Brent’s Cabinet? Or do they think that it should be retained, but are not sure whether those in power at the Civic Centre will still insist that it should be demolished, as that would allow more homes to be built on the site?

 

I’ve been told that the Cabinet’s decision will be made on 16 June, although there is no mention of this in the Council’s Forward Plan. It will apparently be part of the report on “The Future of the Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre” (which comes under Public Health and Leisure). The history society should be able to present its petition to the Cabinet meeting, but my experience from May last year, on another heritage matter, suggests that decisions are taken before petitioners have a chance to have their say!

 

I wanted to make sure that two key Cabinet members had the facts about the heritage building, and Brent’s official heritage policies, before that decision is made, so I sent them the open letter below (the email sending it was also copied to the Cabinet member for Public Health and Leisure, and the three Stonebridge Ward councillors). I hope that good sense prevails, but unfortunately that is not always the case in Brent!

 

 

Philip Grant       

 

                     

The last Annual Meeting of the current Brent administration

Wednesday's Annual Meeting of Brent Council marks the last year of the current administration and the thirteenth year of Muhammed Butt's leadership of the Labour Group and the Council.

The Annual Meeting sees much fussing over ceremonial regalia and flummery, as well as the serious business of appointing Committee members and representatives on outside bodies.

Cllr Ryan Hack will be installed as the youngest ever Brent Mayor and Cllr Kathleen Fraser as his seasoned Deputy.  Whether Cllr Fraser acceedes to the Mayoralty will depend on the outcome of the 2026 local election.

Committee details are not released until just before the Annual Meeting but Butt may attempt a 'refresh' before the election. Watch this space.

The last item on the Annual Meeting Agenda is a proposed Protocol for setting up International Partnerships and a proposed Twinning Arrangement with Nablus on the West Bank of Palestine.

The Twinning proposal is accompanied by a very thorough 67 page assessment of the benefits to Brent and the practicalities HERE.

 The twinning proposal has been supported by a 1849 signature petition and Brent Trades Council, Brent NEU, Brent Friends of Palestine and Brent Palestine Solidarity Campaign amongst others.

The financial arrangements are covered n the documentation:

The Mayoral Office is likely to spend some of its annual budget on hosting the occasional visit (if in a Twinning arrangement). A maximum budget per twinning or friendship agreement per financial year should be identified and confirmed with the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources by the officer(s) assessing the proposal to ensure funds can be allocated to this budget before any new Internal Partnership Arrangement is agreed.

 

 International Partnering Arrangements would fall under the remit of the Mayor of Brent, but costs related to International Partnering Arrangements must be met by the organisation leading on this. This includes costs for entertaining, gift swaps or costs for printing certificates. There should be no additional financial cost for the Mayor’s Office, or other parts of the council.

 

BREAKING: Brent Labour Party members excluded from candidate selection process for 2026 local elections

 Usually over the next few months Labour Party members would be meeting to select the candidates for their ward in the next local council election in 2026.  In the past there have been allegations of candidates signing up friends and family as Labour Party members a few week before the selection meeting in order to get the maximum vote.

This year is different. 

Selection will be made by external 'assessors' recruited by the London Region of the Labour Party.  Each candidate will have a 30 minute virtual interview.  Candidates will be able to express a preference for their top three wards but sitting councillors will be given first preferences in the allocation of wards.

So what role will rank and file Labour Party members have?

The control by the London Region does not end there. A 'Campaign Improvement Board'  will operate in Brent due to the electoral challenge it faces. It will oversee the selection process and establish a relationship with all Brent candidates ahead of the election. Candidates wil be expected to sign a contract setting out campaigning expectations and any extra support needed.  Training will also be provided.

The Brent Campaign Improvement Board  will include Abdi Duale (NEC), Bella Sankey (Leader of Brighton & Hove Council), and Clyde Loakes (Deputy Leader of Waltham Forest Council). All are well known supporters of Labour leader Keir Starmer.

Cllr Shama Tatler is Vice Chair of the London Regional Executive Committee and a member o the Regional Board for Barnet, Camden, Brent and Harrow.