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WEMBLEY MATTERS News and views on local politics, the environment, climate change, culture and local history
Friday, 4 July 2025
Brent Community Land Trust Consultation Days - July 12h and July 17th
Thursday, 3 July 2025
BREAKING: MLM Property Management to take over management of 'several' Quintain blocks from FirstPort including Emerald Gardens
In 2015 First Port announced with a fanfare that they had been appointed by Quintain to manage the Emerald Gardens scheme in Wembley Park. FirstPort wins Quintain’s Emerald Gardens regeneration project
Nearly 10 years on they are handing Emerald Gardens over to MLM Property Management.
CHANGE OF MANAGEMENT – Emerald Gardens, North West Village, Wembley, London, HA9 0FT
As you may be aware, FirstPort will sadly no longer be managing Emerald Gardens from 19 August 2025. We are deeply disappointed to lose you as a customer and we will ensure the handover of information is as seamless as possible so that there is minimum disruption to you and your fellow residents.
Your new managing agent is MLM - Michael Laurie Magar and they will take over all management responsibilities on 19 August 2025.
The balance owed on your account at 18 August 2025 will be removed from our system and transferred over to MLM - Michael Laurie Magar - this will include any credits accrued on the account. All funds owed at that point will need to be paid to your new agent and not FirstPort. If you pay for your charges by Direct Debit, this will be cancelled on our system.
On behalf of FirstPort, I would like to wish you all the best in the future with your new managing agent, and If you have any questions or need assistance, please visit our Contact Us page at https://www.firstport.co.uk/contact-firstport/.
MLM confirmed to Wembley Matters they are taking over the management of several of Quintain's Wembley Park blocks in addition to Emerald Gardens but full details will only be revealed when a press release in agreed with Quintain.
Much has happened regarding FirstPort since 2015.. In 2018 here were complaints from residents in other blocks in Wembley Park about steep rises in service charges Forum and Quadrant residents face huge service charge increases that FirstPort tried to justify First Port attempt to justify leap in service charges at Quadrant Court, Wembley Park
Barry Gardiner MP for Brent West brought up the conduct of several managing agents, including FirstPort in the Westminster Hall Leaseholders and Managing Agents debate on the 28th February 2023 LINK
Gardiner said about FirstPort:
FirstPort’s response to those and the more than 500 more complaints like them that I have received is to make no response and ignore things for as long as possible—for months and years, not days and weeks. There is a lack of accountability and transparency over what the residents are charged for and whether the costs are reasonably incurred and reasonable in amount. There is a total failure to provide leaseholders with a breakdown of service charges. Many of my constituents can wait more than 20 months for accounts to be finalised.
Even when FirstPort admits that refunds are owed to the leaseholder because of double counting, overcharging or charging for services not provided, the requests for the return of the overpayments are often ignored, or the returns can take many months to be made. FirstPort also charged multiple administration penalty charges of £60 each when someone queried the costs. One resident ended up being billed for more than £400 of admin charges and was then browbeaten into paying because of the threat of legal action.
In 2019, Nigel Howell, the then chief executive, conceded to me that it was unlawful for his company to impose late penalty fees on leaseholders who had disputed their charges—but not all leaseholders have been refunded. Nigel Howell also confirmed to me that his company had charged costs for areas not under FirstPort’s management and promised that a 20% refund would be given in the following year’s accounts. Strangely, Nigel Howell was removed from his post as chief executive.
After years of suffering, one brave, resilient resident finally took FirstPort to the tribunal. FirstPort sought to rely in its defence on two factors: it tried to rely on the payments made by leaseholders—in other words, by paying up they had intimated consent; and, especially ironic given the FirstPort practice of delay, it tried to rely on the length of time the leaseholder had taken in bringing the challenge to the tribunal.
On Friday 13 January, the last working day before the hearing, I received the following email in my office from my constituent at 5 pm:
“They are settling all of the claim. Their lawyers harassed me all week and made the offer on Friday afternoon, just hours before the hearing this Monday. They did not want this case heard as they have been lying to Barry. They owe money to 202 families.”
Complaints from residents across the country moved Labour MPs to convene a meeting with FirstPort about their concerns in January this year. FirstPort under fire from MPs over service charge hikes
David Pinto-Duschinsky, who co-chaired the meeting with FirstPort, said:
I’ve had dozens and dozens of complaints about FirstPort’s unacceptable service charge hikes, poor service and lack of responsiveness and transparency.
All too often they are using leaseholders as little more than cash cows to be milked for every penny. People are paying more and more, and getting less and less. Enough is enough, this group of Labour MPs has come together to do everything we can to hold these unscrupulous managing agents to account.
In the same month leaseholders in Faversham Lakes new build project managed to oust FirstPort as managing agents: FirstPort dropped from Kent housing estate amid residents’ revolt over fees
In February this year the relevant trade body suspended FirstPort: FirstPort suspended from its own trade body the Property Institute
Wednesday, 2 July 2025
'We demand the London CIV divests from companies involved in genocide & war crimes' - protest Thursday July 3rd
Brent Council Pension Fund invests a large portion of the fund through the London Collective Investment Vehicle (LCIV), in common with other London boroughs. The CIV lacks democratic accountability - a situation that will worsen if government plans to merge CIVs into super investment vehicles are enacted.
Local borough divestment campaigns have recognised that as well as lobbying their local pension fund committees to divest they have to unite across London to put pressure on the CIV fund managers.
Shake the CIV write:
On Thurday 3rd July, Shake the CIV – a grassroots coalition of over 30 London-based groups – will protest outside the London Collective Investment Vehicle (CIV) Summer Conference at the Tower of London, demanding an end to the use of council funds to finance companies complicit in Israel’s genocide in Gaza and illegal occupation of Palestine.
Shockingly ahead of the July 3 annual meeting, the London CIV has removed their previous statement of complicit companies from their website. LINK
While Israel continues to rain bombs on innocent civilians, London councillors will gather at a lavish conference to discuss how the funds they manage can be further invested in the companies facilitating the bloodshed in Gaza.
Shake the CIV will greet councillors attending the conference and demand that the over £7 billion of complicit funds the CIV manages immediately divested from arms manufacturers, bonds, and corporations profiting from war crimes and occupation.
The London CIV pools pension funds from all 32 London boroughs. Those funds are currently invested in weapons and technology firms including Elbit Systems, BAE Systems, and Lockheed Martin, all of which supply the Israeli military.
Despite claiming that "responsible investment is not only a moral imperative but an economic necessity," the CIV has failed to take meaningful action to divest from these companies.
Speaking on why they are protesting, campaigner Sarah Omar said:
At a time when councils are strapped for cash, the CIV is splurging on a lavish day out for councillors, complete with a guided tour of the Crown Jewels, the very symbols of colonial plunder that many of these investments sustain.
It’s an insult to Londoners and a betrayal of Palestinians suffering under genocidal companies the CIV continues to bankroll.
We demand the London CIV divests from companies involves in genocide and war crimes, and that our councillors use their decision-making power at the CIV to make this happen.
Double events to unite the Brent community July 3rd and July 6th with the Met and Multi-faith Forum
Towards a safer and more united community:
The Brent Multi-faith Forum and the Metropolitan Police invite you to take part in an interactive public meeting and workshop focused on creating a safer, kinder, and more united community. These events will bring together faith leaders, community leaders, and local residents to address key concerns and collaborate on actionable solutions.
Event Details:
Date: 3 July 2025 Time: 4 - 7pm Location: Neasden Temple, The Swaminarayan School, Brentfield Road, London, NW10 8HE.
Event Details:
Date: 6 July 2025 Time: 4 - 7pm Location: St Mary with All Souls, 134A Abbey Road, London, NW6 4SN
Topics for Discussion:
• Safety for young people
• Safety for women and girls
• Cohesion, kindness and promoting prosocial behaviour What to Expect:
• Group workshops with focused table discussions.
• Facilitated sessions to identify practical, community-led solutions.
• Refreshments
Bush Farm Stables, Kingsbury – find out about plans for their future on 9 July at 6pm
Guest post by Philip Grant in a personal capacity
The existing stables building at Bush Farm, June 2025.
Below: Google Earth view.
The stables building at Bush Farm, by the entrance to Fryent Country Park from the junction of Salmon Street and Slough Lane, is in a sorry state. It is owned by Brent Council, but has been neglected by them, with a series of temporary “patch-up” repairs, and it is now unsafe and desperately needs to be replaced.
The Council says that it does not have the money to replace it, so the Bush Farm Collective, which rents the stables and two fields for their horses, obtained some Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy funding to prepare plans for a new stables building, and to explore how this could be paid for. Plans have been prepared, and are about to be submitted to Brent’s Planning Department, and the necessary funding has been agreed by the Government’s Community Ownership Fund, as long as the work begins by the end of 2025.
Bush Farm Collective are holding an open meeting for residents to come and find out more about the plans, in front of the stables at 6pm on Wednesday 9 July. I would encourage people to take up the invitation, as there have been misunderstandings in the past, and it is important that the local community understand and get behind its planning application.
As a result of conflicting advice from different Brent Council departments, a planning application for the temporary siting of two containers in a paddock was submitted in May. It was withdrawn, after Planning Officers told the Collective that this should be part of the application for the new building itself. There were some objections from neighbours to that application, and under the new application those are answered by moving the location of the containers (which are necessary for storing the contents of the barn while the work is carried out) so that they will be inside the construction site, not out in the field.
Among the requirements that Brent’s planners are insisting on is that the application documents should include a Heritage Statement, as Fryent Country Park is a heritage asset. That is how I became involved, when I heard about it. I volunteered to prepare the statement, as I live near the Country Park and have written about its history (for Wembley Matters!). I have, on several occasions, criticised Heritage Statements prepared by professional planning consultants, who would charge a four-figure fee for a document based on little evidence or understanding of the asset they are writing about. I believe my document, in support of the application, is an honest assessment worthy of the Heritage Statement description.
As part of preparing the Heritage Statement, I needed to see the plans for the proposed replacement building. They include two meeting rooms (convertible into one), which can be used independently from the stables, with an accessible outside toilet. These would provide an excellent facility for school nature visits to the Country Park, or for other community groups carrying out activities there, as well as the Collective’s own events. I am looking forward to being able to provide some material for a Country Park “heritage wall” in one of those rooms!
Bush Farm Collective set out their hopes for providing a much bigger community offer three years ago, and if they can get their planning consent in time to go ahead with the replacement building, those hopes will become a reality. Please go to the event on 9 July if you can, see what is proposed, and get behind the plans for this improved community facility. Thank you.
Philip Grant.
Tuesday, 1 July 2025
Lana Del Rey Concerts: Wembley Parking restrictions and road closures Thursday 3rd July and Friday 4th July
From Brent Council
Wembley Stadium will be hosting Lana Del Rey UK and Ireland Tour 2025 on Thursday 3 July and Friday 4 July.
Please read below to see how this might affect you.
Timings
- Lana Del Rey UK and Ireland Tour 2025 on Thursday 3 July and Friday 4 July, doors will open at 5.00pm and road closures will be in place from 3.15pm on both days.
We expect the area around Wembley Stadium to be very busy before and after this event so please avoid the area if you can, unless you have a ticket for the event.
Event day parking
Event day parking restrictions will be in place from 8am to midnight on main roads and from 10am to midnight on residential roads on Thursday 3 July and Friday 4 July.
Saturday, 28 June 2025
Tenants seek further information on Brent Council's follow-up to council housing management failures
Wembley Matters has recently pubished guests posts by Brent Council tenants of the St Raphael's and South Kilburn Estates LINK as well as the findings of the Regulator of Social Housing on brent Council's serious failings in housing management.
Asif Zamir of St Raphael's wrote to Spencer Randolph, Brent Director of Housing about the issues. His reply is below along with Asif's response.
Dear Asif Zamir,
Thank you for taking the time to write on behalf of the residents of St Raphael’s Estate and sharing your concerns regarding the condition and safety of your homes on the estate. I want to begin by acknowledging the distress that the recent findings from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) judgment, have understandably caused. Please know that we take these matters extremely seriously, and yours and all of our tenants safety and well-being remain our highest priority.
When we identified inconsistencies in our safety data earlier this year, we acted swiftly and responsibly by referring ourselves to the RSH. This was not a decision taken lightly, but we believed it was the right and transparent course of action to begin addressing the issues at hand with the seriousness they deserve.
Since then, we have taken a number of urgent steps. We appointed an external health and safety consultancy with experience in supporting organisations in similar situations. They have engaged directly with the RSH and are supporting us in making rapid and lasting improvements. Their work includes helping us to verify and update our compliance data and to ensure all necessary safety checks are clearly recorded and acted upon.
We have also commissioned an audit of our systems and data, due to conclude in mid-July. This review will identify the root causes of the failings and inform a detailed recovery plan, underpinned by clear timelines and actions to ensure accountability.
In the meantime, we are reviewing all compliance data and building safety actions using a risk-based approach, prioritising high-risk issues. To help us move at pace, we are increasing capacity in our teams, including recruiting additional officers and contractors dedicated to this work.
We are also taking visible action across the Borough and on St. Raphael’s Estate. Over the coming weeks, residents will see more surveyors and contractors on estates as we carry out:
A new round of Stock Condition Surveys to update our understanding of the condition of every home
Fire Risk Assessments for all blocks of flats on estates
Pre and post-inspections to make sure building safety actions are completed to a high standard
We will communicate clearly and in advance about any visits to our tenants homes or buildings, and we are committed to improving how we engage with you going forward.
Finally, I want to reiterate that Brent Council is fully committed to learning from these failings and to restoring your confidence in the safety and quality of your homes. We know that words alone are not enough, you deserve to see real, sustained improvements, and we are determined to deliver them.
Thank you again for sharing your concerns.
Yours sincerely,
Spencer Randolph
Director – Housing Services
Dear Spencer Randolph,
Thank you for your prompt response to my letter and for acknowledging the concerns of St. Raphael's Estate residents following the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) findings. We appreciate your transparency in referring Brent Council to the RSH, and we understand that steps are being taken to address the issues.
While we acknowledge the measures you've outlined, including the appointment of an external consultancy, the audit of systems, and increased capacity within your teams, the residents of St. Raphael's Estate require reassurance and immediate, tangible results to ensure their safety.
The recent fire on St. Raphael's Estate in May, which tragically led to the tragic loss of life of our neighbours, has significantly heightened anxieties among residents. This incident demands an urgent and thorough investigation into why the building experienced accelerated combustion and further to this why the fire was not contained and spread to the ajoining property. We need clear answers regarding potential concerns with insulation, cladding, or the overall build quality of the affected building and others on the estate. Furthermore, we are deeply concerned about a potential correlation between this tragic incident and the previously identified lack of safety data from Brent Council.
While the planned surveys and risk assessments are a welcome step, residents need to see these actions translated into fast results. The fear of another incident is very real, and waiting for audits to conclude in mid-July and for the implementation of recovery plans does not alleviate the immediate anxieties.
We urge Brent Council to:
Prioritise the investigation into the St. Raphael's Estate fire, providing residents with immediate updates on preliminary findings regarding the cause of accelerated combustion and any links to building materials or construction.
Share a clear and accelerated timeline for addressing the most critical safety issues identified by the RSH and through your ongoing reviews, particularly those related to fire safety.
Demonstrate visible and proactive measures on the estate now, beyond just surveys, to address any immediate high-risk concerns.
Establish a direct and ongoing communication channel with residents to provide transparent updates on progress and address specific concerns arising from the fire and the RSH findings.
We understand that systemic changes take time, but the safety and peace of mind of St. Raphael's Estate as well as residents from wider Brent cannot wait. We look forward to seeing swift and decisive action that translates your commitment into demonstrable improvements in the safety and quality of our homes.
Yours sincerely,
Asif Zamir
An old map of the original estate
Meanwhile Pete Firmin, a tenant on the South Kilburn Estate, has submitted a Freedom of Information request on the remit and makeup of the housing Advisory Board. LINK
Dear Brent Borough Council,
I understand a Housing Advisory Board has been set up. Can you please tell me:
1) Its remit.
2) Its composition - who is on the board and their qualification for doing so.
3) If there are residents on this board, how they were recruited and what qualifications they were required to have to be on the board.
4) All correspondence relating both to the establishment of this board and the recruitment of its members.