Save the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre Petition to be presented to Full Council on September 15th

 

Pupils and staff from Carlton Vale Infants Schools at a previous campaign to Save the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre - decades ago!

 

I will be presenting the petition calling on Brent Council to make every effort to continue the work of the Welsh Harp Environment Education Centre  with primary school pupils after the withdrawal of Thames21, at the next Full Council on Monday September 15th.

The aim is to provide space within the new SEND 16-25 Provision for primary schools to work on the Life Processes and Living Things aspects of the Science National Curriculum, getting first hand experience. This will need another provider to run the courses and importantly classroom space in the new building.

Statements from the Council have lacked clarity with some suggesting that the building will only be used by the SEND students, leaving no physical space and thus no time in the school day for primary pupils.

 A statement from a Capital Projects Manager (rather than the lead members for Environment or Schools) focuses on the building  and says..' it should be noted that the Council has exciting plans to deliver a new Welsh Harp Horticultural Centre. The Council’s vision is to deliver a horticultural educational service to two specific groups 1) 5–11-year-old pupils and 2) 16–25-year-old SEND young people with two separate partner agencies as the Council’s long-term partners.'

It is not a 'horticultural service for primary pupils' that we are fighting for but the scuence curriculum referred to above. 

They wax lyrical on what the building will offer, and it is impressive, but more important is the education that will be offered, particulaly for a generation who will be faced with all the challenges of climate chance and loss of biodiversity. This section of the statement seems to forget the primary pupils:

 The primary purpose of this centre is to create much needed facilities for special educational needs and disability (SEND) young people 16-25 years old, therefore the design is developed to accommodate the space standards for SEND. However, the centre is available as a resource for any resident and/or group to utilise by booking the available spaces. The new centre will consist of a reception, 4 teaching spaces, hygiene room, toilets, staff tea point, lift and stairs on the ground floor, permitting access to the first floor. The first floor contains a large open plan multi-use space with tea point, office space, first aid room, hygiene room, storage space, external terrace, and a green roof. The landscaping will include a new pond, poly tunnels for growing produce and plants, an enhanced biodiversity area, a covered outdoor activity area and the biodiverse green roof at first floor level. The terrace can be used to view and study the wildlife at Welsh Harp.

One former teacher commented:

The thing I picked out was how they were keen to talk about how much consultation there had been on the idea, but could not see that schools who have used WHEEC for years were on the list and I would be interested in how the proposal was put ie “look at the marvellous idea and facilities we are providing” without any suggestion of what would be lost.  The answer to, “ Would you like great facilities for SEND children/young people to help them fulfil their potential” is always going to yes.

 

Another large elephant in the room  is that there are a number of references in various places to the use of the facility by residents and other organisations, but it also seems to say the facility will be in used every day and weekends for the SEND groups.  

 

A lovely line  “The proposed facility would provide an opportunity for residents to be better connected to nature and enhance green spaces and bio diversity.”  I can’t see when the public can use it timewise and they won’t be allowed on site if vulnerable pupils are there. Also Polytunnels? Enhance green spaces?

Hopefully lead members responding to the Petition will reassure schools and pupils that the work of the WHEEC will be accommodated within the new building and that every effort is being made to find a new provider,

Labour Hub on Brent Councillor cull

Republished with permission from Labour Hub. This adds additional context to articles published on Wembley Matters

 

Labour’s factional cull of councillors continues – eight dumped in Brent

Earlier this year, Labour Hub reported that the London Borough of Brent’s Labour Party was the latest to be subjected to a ‘Campaign Improvement Board’. “Instead of allowing the Party’s local branches to select their council candidates ahead of the 2026 borough elections, selections will be made by external ‘assessors’ recruited by the Party’s London Region.”

That process has now ended and Labour’s National Executive Committee has announced its results, against which there is no appeal. No ordinary rank and file members of the Party have been consulted: the NEC has imposed a full set of candidates on the borough’s wards by fiat.

Eight sitting councillors have been excluded. All of them had signed a statement calling for a ceasefire in Gaza in October 2023.

All eight sitting councillors are from minoritised communities, while white councillors who have also held similar positions, such as signing the Gaza ceasefire statement, have not been removed.

The NEC panel was chaired by Keir Starmer ally Abdi Duale, who also carried out most of the interviews that led to the councillors being deselected.

London Party Regional Executive Committee member Cllr Shama Tatler does not appear to be re-standing for Brent Council. But she was a vocal supporter of this CIB and is rumoured to have been actively involved in steering the decision-making. This follows on from her involvement in the Leicester CIB in 2023, which deselected 19 Muslim and Hindu Councillors. In subsequent local elections in the city, Labour lost 22 seats.

At last year’s general election, Leicester East saw the only Tory gain of  the night – and Leicester South went to Independent Shockat Adam.  Cllr Shama Tatler was also parachuted in to run against Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP in Chingford and Woodford Green last year, after the Labour Party apparatus removed Faiza Shaheen as its candidate at the last minute. She lost.

The rationale for the Campaign Improvement Board’s intervention in Brent was never fully revealed. Rumours circulated that it was because of concerns about irregularities in the process leading up to the previous round of candidate selections – which is nonsensical as all steps in this process were fully coordinated with and signed off by regional Party officials.

Another supposed concern was the need to counter the rising Tory-supporting Hindu nationalist vote evident in neighbouring Harrow. Deselecting candidates from a global majority background is unlikely to address such a concern.

It’s evident that factional politics has played a major role in the whole process. Would-be candidates were quizzed about their support for Gaza and, as elsewhere, whatever the original purpose, the result has been to remove a number of excellent local councillors. Poorly performing right wingers, however, who were democratically deselected ahead of council elections in 2022, have been reinstated – sometimes in safe seats.

That’s if any seat in the borough can now be considered safe. Local members, from left to right, are fuming that their councillors have been rejected, without any democratic input from grassroots activists. It’s hard to think of anything more demotivating at a time when members will have work overtime to retain seats, given the poor position of Labour in the polls resulting from Keir Starmer’s failings in government.

Brent Labour Is just the latest victim in the right wing’s campaign of centralising ‘selections’ when it can’t guarantee the result it wants locally. As Richard Price pointed out earlier this year, “The right to choose local government candidates from an adequately-sized panel isn’t a left issue as such, but one shared by many members in other wings of the party and in affiliated unions. The hour is already late, but what we need is a genuinely broad-based campaign to restore local Labour democracy.”

The witch-hunt in Brent comes four days after a Labour defeat in the West Hampstead ward by-election in neighbouring Camden Council on a 23-point swing. A similar swing in Brent in 2026 would see councillors being lost in almost every single Labour-held ward. This upheaval in Brent Labour will undoubtedly increase this likelihood, leading to Labour losing control of the administration.

Former Brent Councillor Graham Durham arrested at free speech on Palestine demonstration

 

Former Brent councillor, 71 year old grandfather Graham Durham was arrested by police at Saturday's demonstration for free speech on Palestine.

Durham told Wembley Matters, ' I was released at 4.45 am in Ilford after being held for 12 hours, double handcuffed, carried and dumped in a van and driven to Ilford cop shop .'

On Facebook Graham posted:

I just want to pay tribute to the magnificent organisers and volunteers of Defend Our Juries.

 

The support and guidance of the video briefings before yesterday’s Palestine Actiion event were fantastic. At 4am ( twelve hours after my arrest ) the police let me telephone the designated solicitor firm, there I received clear and helpful advice from a solicitor who could be at home in bed.

 

 Emerging from a police cell at 4.45am into a dark backstreet of Ilford ( 18 miles from home with no public transport), I and others were met with a group of DOJ volunteers with tea, coffee , food and offers of accommodation and help with taxis etc. This was repeated at 18 police stations and custody centres for many many hours.

 

To emerge bruised and for many brave arrestees frightened to see the Palestinian flag flying was magical.

 

Solidarity as it should be .. well done everyone

 

 

Lib Dems call on Brent Conservatives to withdraw their Full Council Motion in order to protect good community relations

 Brent Liberal Democrat leader, Paul Lorber, has written to Cllr Suresh Kansagra, Conservative Group leader, and his colleagues asking them to withdraw their motion tabled for debate at Full Council on Monday September 15th. The motion is titled 'Deterence, Integration and Accommodation Impacts of Illegal Immigration on Brent'. 

Lorber argues for withdrawal because of the motion’s potential to undermine good community relations. He told Wembley Matters, ' The last thing Brent needs is incitement to protest outside any of the local hotels used and make the poor people inside fear for their lives.'

The Conservative motion includes attempts to provide reassurance on ‘deserving genuine refugees’ but then focuses on ‘illegal immigration’, ‘deterrence’and local hotel accommodation for asylum seekers. Such hotels have of course come under right-wing attack in recent weeks.

 

Deterrence, Integration and Accommodation Impacts of Illegal Immigration on Brent

Background:

Brent has seen growing pressures on its housing stock, primary care and policing, in part due to hotels used for those arriving by irregular channel crossings by boats.

Hotels are used by the Home Office to place asylum seekers and those who arrive through illegal routes. This burdens the wider public purse and taxpayers and may create resentment towards those who follow these illegal routes.

There is currently no clear policy to integrate people arriving illegally, leading to cultural tensions, fears and safety concerns. Although not in Brent, the high-profile case of sexual assault by a recent arrival has amplified public anxiety.

This Council Notes:

·  Illegal immigrants increase the demand for emergency hotel accommodation, diverting resources from Brent residents in need.

·  Brent households face extended waits for temporary housing while hotels remain filled with asylum claimants which could include those arriving by small boats.

·  The answer is deterrence to stop the boats, faster decisions that ensure people are not waiting for clarity on their immigration status for long periods of time and firm humane returns for those with no right to remain.

·  Safe and legal routes should exist for the most vulnerable, with clear caps linked to local capacity.

·  Other European countries have adopted deterrent and processing measures without veering into extreme policy e.g.

Italy agreed with Albania to process arrivals in centres under Italian jurisdiction, moving decisions away from beach landings.

Denmark legislated for third country processing, explored partnership with Rwanda while seeking a path that fits with European rules.

The European Union has struck migration partnerships with Tunisia and Egypt to curb dangerous journeys upstream.

This Council Believes:

·  Genuine refugees fleeing persecution deserve protection and swift humane  processing.

·  The integrity of our asylum system must be upheld by deterring dangerous journeys and prevent abuse of legal channels.

·  Faster decision-making is required to process asylum claims and that people arriving illegally should be deported. Quick humane returns for those with no right to remain will restore public confidence.

·  Those in genuine danger should be protected and shown the integrity of the system.

·  That residents should not be made to subsidise national policy failures which result in inflated rental costs and overstretched public services.

·  The Government has removed the Rwanda option without putting a credible solution to remove illegal immigrants in its place. This does not serve the national interest.

·  If a workable model can cut the pull of illegal routes, a serious government should test it and be honest about results.

This Council therefore resolves:

(1) To publish data on the number of hotels used for asylum accommodation in Brent and, once they are granted leave to remain, the impact on the housing waiting list.

(2) To secure monthly data from the Home Office and an exit plan for hotel use in Brent with dates and milestones.

Councillor Suresh Kansagra Kenton Ward

 

The Liberal Democrats had composed their own motion for the Group Motions section of the Full Council Agenda before they had sight of the Conservative motion. Their motion takes a contrasting approach:

 

 Standing United Against Racism and Xenophobia in Brent

 

This Council notes:

 

In recent years, particularly after the Brexit referendum, there has been a disturbing rise in racist and xenophobic rhetoric in public discourse, much of it amplified by political parties and figures on the far right and reactionary elements who seek to divide our communities. These groups have used inflammatory language, scapegoating migrants and minority communities, in a calculated attempt to stoke fear and resentment for political gain.

 

Brent is one of the most diverse boroughs in the UK. Over many decades, people from across the globe – from South Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and beyond – have made their home here, contributing immensely to our local economy, public services, cultural life, and social fabric. Whether as NHS workers, teachers, carers, builders, artists, entrepreneurs, or community leaders, migrants have played a vital role in shaping modern Brent into the vibrant, resilient, and forward-looking borough it is today.

 

This Council believes:

 

·       Racism, xenophobia, and all forms of bigotry must be challenged wherever and whenever they arise, including when they come from mainstream or elected political figures.

·       The demonisation of immigrants and refugees not only undermines social cohesion but also endangers the safety and well-being of residents across Brent.

·       Brent’s diversity is not a challenge to be managed, but a strength to be celebrated.

 

This Council resolves to:

 

1.    Proudly reaffirm Brent's commitment to being an inclusive, anti-racist borough, where all residents – regardless of background, nationality, or immigration status – are welcomed, valued, and protected.

2.    Publicly condemn the racist and xenophobic rhetoric being spread by Reform UK and other groups on the far/right, and make clear that such divisive narratives have no place in our borough or our politics.

3.    Celebrate the contributions of immigrants to Brent, through public awareness campaigns, community events, and educational initiatives that promote understanding, solidarity, and historical awareness.

4.    Encourage all councillors and community leaders to speak out against hate speech and misinformation targeting migrants and to work proactively to build unity across all of Brent’s communities.

5.    Continue to support migrant and refugee communities through council services, advocacy, and partnerships with local organisations working on inclusion, integration, and support.

 

Brent has always been stronger because of its diversity – not in spite of it. At a time when fear and hatred are being weaponised in national discourse, we in Brent choose a different path: one of solidarity, mutual respect, and pride in who we are as a borough. We reject the politics of division and instead embrace the values of justice, dignity, and equality for all.

 

Cllr Paul Lorber - Leader of the Brent Liberal Democrats

 

 

 

 

 

The eight Brent councillors deselected by Labour bosses from outside Brent

 Cllr Rita Begum (Kilburn)

 

Cllr Jumbo Chan (Harlesden & Kensal Green)

 

Cllr Diana Collymore (Northwick Park)

 

Cllr Tony Ethapemi (Stonebridge)
 

 Cllr Harbi Farah (Welsh Harp) Lead member for Safer Communities, Jobs and Skills0

 

Cllr Erica Gbajumo (Brondesbury Park)

 

Cllr Iman Ahmadi Moghaddam (Wembley Park) Labour Group Whip

Cllr Rajan-Seelan (Wembley Central)

Brent Council propose to spend £0.5m on tree planting

 

From the Draft Tree Strategy. Most of Brent's 19,000 trees are of unknown species at  present

 

As part of the planned spend of Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure monies (LINK) Brent Council is proposing to spend £498,360 trees in line with the Brent Tree Strategy currently in consultation. 1,500 trees wil be planted in 15 specified areas bwteen now and October 2027.

The plans have been welcomed by the recently formed Brent Tree Champions (See below), particularly the proposal for large standard size (3m tall tree) trees rater than saplings, but more detail will be needed regarding maintenance, choice of species etc.

The Proposal:

 

 CAPITAL PROJECT

This project proposes to plant 1500 trees in areas identified across the borough split across 15 identified areas in line with Tree Strategy. Pre- engagement and consultation will be carried out with residents between September 2025 and December 2025. 

 

Planting intends to commence in January 2026 with the end of establishment watering scheduled for October 2027.
 

Trees for Brent is a wide-ranging proposal to plant new trees across several neighbourhoods and Wards of Brent. Trees proposed are large ‘standard’ size, typically 3 metres tall with a fully formed clear trunk. 

There is also one area on new woodland planting proposed, under barn Hill Project Area. Areas have been identified by residents and community groups bringing forward requests direct to officers or via councillors. Several councillors are strongly in support of new trees in their wards and have developed working relationships with officers to constantly seek funding opportunities. 

 Sadly, in last year there has been a dramatic fall in external funding for large standard trees suitable for street and public realm planting. (small woodland whips continue to be available but there is very limited potential to plant these in Brent, residents are not looking for tiny trees, they want to see something of significant size).

Some residents’ groups in project areas listed below have been waiting a long time for suitable funding opportunities therefore this NCIL roundis very welcome and will address an extensive list of community requests.
 

For ease of project management and to ensure focussed community engagement with a wide range of different groups, proposal has been divided into 15 distinct local neighbourhood areas.
 

Number of new trees is given for each project site, these numbers have been assessed by officers as realistic for planting in each area.

Criteria used to assess project areas are:

1/. Community interest and support for new trees
2/. Councillor support
3/. Brent Connects identified priorities for each area
4/. Need for trees in the areas proposed, officer site survey to assess existing tree provision
5/. Sites affected by development, proximity to Growth Areas
6/. Indices of Multiple Deprivation (based on 2015 IMDs)
7/. Tree Equity Score – a measure of tree canopy cover by LSOA for each project area
8/. Area of Open Space Deficiency – Significant for some Project Areas.

 

BRENT TREE STRATEGY CONSULTATION

There are two Tree Strategy Cosultations next week register on-line and complete the on0line consultation here: https://haveyoursay.brent.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/draft-brent-tree-strategy/1
 

Consultation ends on the 18th September 

 

BRENT TREE CHAMPIONS

 

 

Brent Tree Champions has been set up with the following aims: 

1a.         Campaign to maintain and preserve existing Brent trees in public spaces and private gardens.

1b.         Campaign to increase the tree canopy through replacement of felled trees and new planting.

1c.         Encourage the community to appreciate their trees and their contribution to mitigating the local effects of the climate and ecological emergencies

1d.         Encourage the community to actively engage with the above aims.

2. Individuals and organisations who agree with these aims are invited to join us. Email BrentTreeChampions@gmail.com and follow Brent Tree Champions on Twitter @tree_brent1424

 

Labour Bosses Sack Eight Sitting BAME Brent Councillors for Supporting Palestine and Close in on Council Leader Muhammed Butt

Brent Anti-racism Charter 2022

Exclusive insight from a former Brent Labour Party member:

Labour's Ruling Body (National Executive Committee) have imposed all Labour council candidates in Brent without any say from thousands of local party members or long serving MPs.

This includes barring eight sitting BAME Councillors, including Labour’s Chief Whip Cllr Iman Ahmadi Moghaddam and Cabinet Member Cllr Harbi Farah from standing in the May 2026 council election.

All deselected councillors signed a statement calling for a ceasefire in Gaza in October 2023, infuriating Starmer loyalists. This is thought to be the primary motive for their deselection. 

White councillors who also signed the same statement survived the purge, in a move that will undoubtedly raise some difficult questions for Labour on the doorstep amongst Brent’s diverse communities. 

⁠The panel that decided Labour’s candidate list was chaired by Starmerite and corporate lobbyist Abdi Duale, who also carried out most of the interviews that led to the Councillors being deselected.

London Labour Party Executive member and Kingsbury Councillor Shama Tatler did not stand [she said so in Twitter statement]. She was a vocal supporter of the move to take decision making out of the hands of Labour members, and is rumoured to have been actively involved in deciding the final list of candidates. Cllr Tatler was also involved in the running of a similar process in Leicester in 2023, which deselected 19 Muslim and Hindu Councillors. 

New Starmerite MP, Georgia Gould, imposed by the national party in 2024, is rumoured to have taken time out of her busy government ministerial role to personally intervene to encourage the purge and replace sitting Councillors with her Starmerite allies. 

This comes four days after Labour's catastrophic defeat in the West Hampstead ward by-election in neighbouring Camden Council. A similar 23-point swing in Brent in 2026 would see councillors being lost in almost every single Labour-held ward. The recent upheaval in Brent Labour will undoubtedly increase this likelihood, leading to internal fears that Labour could lose control of Brent’s administration.

This appears to be the first step in removing council leader Muhammed Butt, motivated by Starmerite outrage over his non-compliance, especially his decision to allow Brent council to set up a ‘twinning arrangement’ with Nablus, a town in Palestine.

EDITOR'S NOTE - The deselected individuals remain as Brent councillors until the May 2026 Local Election unless they resign.

Who are these 'security' people people in Barham Park? Some questions.

Illustrative image - not an actual scene from Barham Park!

 

 

Dear Edtor,

In the past few weeks I have observed what  appears  to be security guards patrolling Barham Park.

 

They have been using high spec binoculars and questioning people in the park.

 

Could anyone answer  the following:

Why are they there?

Who are they?

Who is paying them?

Do they have the right to stop and question people?

Do they have the power to arrest or ban people from the park?

Also, surely this is a job for the community police  officers.

 

Be grateful if anyone can answer  the above?

 

Local (name supplied)