Together in Brent Winter Festival - Saturday - Brent Civic Centre 11am to 5pm

Before you vote this evening in #Alperton #Barnhill #WembleyCentral Brent by-elections READ THIS!

Brent clarifies confusing Neighbourhood CIL consultation survey

Brent Council has clarified the Neighbourhood  Community Infrastructure Levy consultation survey. The drop-down menu on each of the areas is labelled 1 to 9. Some people had thought 9 would be the highest priority as it is the highest number. In fact the highest priority is 1 and 9 is the lowest.

This afternoon the Counncil said:

Based on the data and comments received, we are able to confidently assume that most people used number 1 to rank their highest priority. However, just to be sure we will be emailing all respondents to this consultation to clarify the ranking order and they will be invited to submit a new response which will be counted separately.

The Council amended the relevant page thus:

The closing date for the consultation is confirmed as February 5th. Link to consultation HERE

In answer to a separate query on the Annual CIL report the Council said:

To clarify, the 'n/a' which appears in some of the tables means 'not applicable' rather than 'not available'. For the avoidance of doubt we have included a clarification point at the end of the document which has been republished online. In addition, the third table of the Report includes the name of the item of infrastructure that CIL was used to fund in 18/19 - Olympic Way Pedestrian Improvements - which is linked to footnote 3.

The Olympic Way Pedestrian Improvements expenditure in 2018-19 totalled  £4,632,929 in  addition to the £815,114 Wembley Neighbourhood CIL payments.

'It ain't over yet!' Granville Carlton demonstrators expected at Planning Committee on Wednesday as planners wave aside loss of Rumi's Cave

Demonstrators will be assembling outside Brent Civic Centre tomorrow at 5.30pm  to before attending the 6pm Committee to oppose the planning application  for the Carlton-Granville Centres.

The proposals will see the charity Rumi's Cave lose its premises. Planners express sympathy in their report to the Committee but state: 
Whilst some material weight can be given to the charitable work and benefit to the community Rumi’s Cave and other organisations utilising the existing space offer, planning decisions are generally informed by the proposed land use and the development plan rather than a particular occupier of a building/land at the time of an application. The development plan should be given significant weight by the decision maker.

 A digitial petition attracted 2,199 signatories and 623 pro-forma letters were received which stated residents' views on the application.

The Report LINK states:

A digital petition at the time of the submission to council held 2,064 signatories, latest review of the petition found 2199 signatories. Signatories come from across the world, the majority outside of the South Kilburn area. 

The petition was titled: Would you like to see Rumi’s Cave continue? 

The petition web page describes how the community centre is to be closed down and turned into flats. The stated aim of the petition is “it is vital that we save our building or are given an alternative building to continue all of the work we do.” 

Rumi’s Cave is described as providing the following services: 

Food bank, Soup Kitchens and community lunches, Breakfast Clubs for school children and local residents, Night Shelter for the homeless, Tea & Chat sessions for the elderly, IT support for the elderly, Martial Arts and Yoga (Children & Adults), Language Courses, Music Lessons, Knitting & Crochet club, Mental Health support groups, Open mic and poetry sessions, Free Community movie nights, Interfaith music nights, Herbal medicine Training, Alternative Medicine Treatments. 

No planning reasons are suggested in addition to the stated objection. It is clear there is objection to loss of space for use by Rumi’s Cave/ULFA Aid, this seems to be based on the suggestion the Carlton building is to be turned into flats which is not the case. The space which Rumi’s Cave/Ulfa Aid currently occupies on a temporary short term lease is to be refurbished to primarily serve as an enterprise hub to serve the local community and was formerly an adult education centre. 

CS Policy CP23 seeks to protect existing community facilities. Whilst there is some overall loss of floorspace in community type uses, a range of facilities is proposed, and those facilities are to be redeveloped and improved. Overall the small scale loss is considered to be mitigated by the rationalised and modernised facilities. The proposals would offer significant improvement in layout, access and usability enabling much more efficient use of the community type uses on site and is considered a significant benefit of the proposals. It is therefore considered that the community facilities would be significantly improved despite the reduction in floorspace. 

Some public comment has been concerned with the net loss of community type floorspace. However, it is important to note the specific policy wording. Policy CP23 refers to the protection of community and cultural facilities or their loss mitigated where necessary. The policy does not specify that there should not be a net loss of floorspace and it is important to consider the type and nature of facilities that are proposed. In this instance there is a comparatively smalls scale loss of net floorspace within the new community facility provision. Some of the floorspace is changing. For example, the multi-use community floorspace and the community focused affordable workspace is increasing in size. The nursery and children’s centres are also increasing in size.

The space that was used as an adult education centre and has been used by Rumi’s cave in 2018 and 2019 is not being reprovided. However, overall there the community facilities are considered to be improved, benefitting the community as well as supporting the wider regeneration benefits of the South Kilburn masterplan area. 

The petitions received by the Council centred on the potential loss of space for the Rumi’s cave organisation. Rumi’s cave entered the site on a temporary arrangement in 2018. This part of the site was formerly used as an adult education centre. The South Kilburn masterplan clearly identifies the site for a range of uses including an enterprise hub, education, community space and residential development and the proposal looks to deliver those uses. The South Kilburn masterplan SPD was recently endorsed by a significant majority in a local referendum (72% of eligible resident’s voted, 84% voted in favour of the masterplan). 

Whilst some limited weight can be given to the charitable work and benefit to the community Rumi’s cave provides as a community facility use, planning decisions are informed by the proposed land use and the development plan rather than a particular occupier of a building at the time of an application. The development plan should be given significant weight by the decision maker. 

Some objection comments cite that office space demonstrated as part of the proposals fall outside the scope of community type uses. While this would be the case for standard office space let on the private market, the office space is proposed to serve a community function, with a management plan submitted which sets out how the space will be operated. A condition is proposed to secure a management plan which would ensure this space continues to serve and support the community and improve local engagement, employment and enterprise opportunities which is consistent with the objectives of the South Kilburn Masterplan SPD for this site and the Local Plan. 

Whilst some objections have focussed upon the specific parameters of the D1 use class, the policy is not referenced in terms of D1 use class. It is possible for buildings to serve a community/social infrastructure purpose without strictly being within the D1 use class as defined by The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987. The broader site has a mix of uses present currently and flexibility in the specific uses is considered to be appropriate. 

CS policy CP2 requires to plan for additional housing, which this development would contribute towards, in particular affordable housing, all units are to be affordable (affordable rent) units, which is a significant benefit of the proposals. 

Whilst officers do sincerely empathise with the challenges of finding space for charitable organisations, planning decisions are required by law to be based upon the adopted development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. 

It is notable Rumi’s cave have a short term lease arrangement, understood to expire in 2021. The Local Planning Authority (as a distinct authority from the Council, although sits within the Council) has a legal requirement to objectively assess the application on its planning merits. 

Whilst some material weight can be given to the charitable work and benefit to the community Rumi’s Cave and other organisations utilising the existing space offer, planning decisions are generally informed by the proposed land use and the development plan rather than a particular occupier of a building/land at the time of an application. The development plan should be given significant weight by the decision maker. 

Given the retention of a mix of community and social infrastructure based uses on site, plus delivery of housing the principle of development is considered acceptable and in accordance with the objectives of the development plan.

Brent Exiting Prostitution Drop-in Monday afternoons

From Brent Council

The Brent Exiting Prostitution Project deliver a drop in at Crisis Skylight Brent on Monday afternoons from 2 – 4 pm.

The drop in offers a safe space for women to come and talk and learn about the support that is available to them.

There will be snacks, hot drinks, condoms, and clothes etc. along with creative and educational workshops with guest speakers, such as drug service professionals and sexual health screenings.

Unit 2, Ajax Building, 16a St Thomas’s Road, London, NW10 4AJ

In an emergency always call 999.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: teshene.severin-omamogho@brent.gov.uk

93% of Brent's Community Infrastructure Levy retained at end of 2018-19 financial year

Brent Council's  Annual Community Infrastructure Levy Report for the financial year 2018-2019 has just been published.  It shows that 93% of Brent CIL (£86,112,896.87) was retained at the end of the year.  The proportion of Strategic CIL retained was 94% (£74,026,947). £4,672,262 went towards Olympic Way works.

The Council has a long-term Infrastructure Delivery Plan 2020-2041, linked to the Brebt Local Plan, that can be seen HERE.

Cllr Muhammed Butt at the recent meeting on Street Trees, argued that Brent Council had no money for extensive tree and pavement works, so it is worth looking at the section of CIL that goes towards Neighbourhood CIL. The percentage retained was 89% overall (£12,085,948).

The borough is divided into six CIL neighbourhoods for the purposes of Neighbourhood CIL. These are the figures - the amount available includes the carry-forward from previous years.

CIL Neighbourhood	Amount available	Amount allocated	Percentage allocated	Amount retained
Harlesden	£1,130,675	£169,600	15%	£961,075
Kilburn & Kensal	£889,361	£319,360	36%	£570,000
Kingsbury & Kenton	£657,596	£116,888	18%	£540,709
Sudbury Town	£23,162	None	None	£23,162
Wembley	£10,187,294	£815,114	8%	£9,372,181
Willesden	£726,371	£107,552	15%	£618,819

At the Trees meeting Cllr Butt appeared to blame local groups for not putting forward bids for Neighbourhood CIL to fund enviromental project but in previous years Council departments, in various guises, have put forward their own bids on behalf of particular neighbourhoods.

I would suggest that the Scrutiny Task Group on trees policy could widen their brief to include the use of Neigbourhood CIL.

The full report LINK available below lists the projects that have been funded in each CIL neighbourhood.
(Click bottom right corner for full page view)

UPDATED WITH COMMENT: (Some of) Wembley Park’s sporting heritage uncovered

Guest blog by Philip Grant in personal capacity

Quintain representatives remove barriers in front of the Ice Hockey mural, while Brent Communications team discuss plans for the photo shoot, ahead of the “reveal” of three tile mural scenes on 18 January.

It may be hard to believe, after the battle I was involved in with Quintain and Brent Council’s planners six months ago LINK , but last Saturday afternoon I was celebrating the “reveal” of three of the Bobby Moore Bridge tile mural scenes with Brent’s Mayor, Council Leader and Lead Member for Culture, and representatives from Quintain!

Back in November, I had written to Josh McNorton, of Quintain’s Wembley Park Arts organisation, to try to get at least some of the tile murals put back on public display during this London Borough of Culture year LINK. Now, the Council and Wembley Park are making it part of their LBOC 2020 offering.

I was one of two members of Wembley History Society invited by Brent to take part in the event, and we were warmly welcomed by Cllr. Ernest Ezeajughi and his Council colleagues. After lots of photographs (for both the Council and Wembley Park) short speeches were filmed from the Mayor, Julian Tollast of Quintain and W.H.S. Chair Jim Moher, to be used in Brent’s LBOC social media. 

I was then asked if I would be willing to “speak to camera” about why the murals were there and what they showed. It was an opportunity I felt that I had to take, but in case what was recorded does not make it beyond the editing stage, I will give some more information about the parts of Wembley’s sporting heritage shown by the three mural scenes which will be on show, but only until 24^th February.

The Ice Hockey mural can be seen in the first image above. The Empire Pool (now Wembley Arena) opened in 1934, providing a large public swimming pool in summer which could be covered over for other events, especially ice hockey and public ice skating through the winter months. From October that year, two teams used the ice hockey rink, the Wembley Lions and the Wembley Monarchs (originally known as the Wembley Canadians, they retained the maple leaf as their badge). The Wembley Lions were national ice hockey league champions in 1936, 1937, 1952 and 1957, and played their last match in 1968.

Wembley Lions team photo, from a 1937 ice hockey programme.

The middle of the three mural scenes, on the east wall of Olympic Way just as you come out from the Bobby Moore Bridge subway, celebrates Rugby League. I can’t help wondering whether the large pillar, installed by Quintain for lighting and adverts, would have been moved somewhere else if the tile murals had not been covered with vinyl advertising sheets when it was put in place!

The Rugby League mural, as it is now.

The Rugby League Challenge Cup Final used to be played at one of a number of club grounds in the north of England, but by the late 1920’s a larger venue was needed for the event. Arthur Elvin, whose company had saved Wembley Stadium by buying it from the British Empire Exhibition’s liquidator, put on a good show for the 1928 F.A. Cup Final, with a marching band and community singing. Even though their team lost, the Huddersfield Town football fans went home very happy with their outing, which lead the Rugby League to give Wembley a try [no pun intended?] for their final in May 1929.

Crowds outside Wembley Stadium at the 1948 Challenge Cup Final.

Since then, apart from 1940-45 (because of the Second World War) and 2000-2006 (when the stadium was being rebuilt), the Challenge Cup Final has been played at Wembley every year, providing the sport's annual "big day out" at the National Stadium. The BBC first televised the match live in 1948, and that still continues as well, so that Rugby League has been part of our local sporting heritage for over 90 years.

The American Football mural.

American Football’s history at Wembley does not go back quite as far. The first NFL game at the Stadium was played in 1983, but the first American Football match there took place 40 years earlier, during the Second World War. It was probably between teams representing the U.S. Air Force and U.S. ground forces who were stationed in England, in preparation for the invasion of Europe in 1944. I wrote about this in a "guest blog" article in 2017 LINK .

Please go and see these tile mural scenes if you can, take photographs and share them on social media. These vivid mural pictures, made entirely from oblong ceramic tiles, are part of a public work of art that celebrates Wembley Park’s rich sporting heritage. In putting these mural scenes on show, as part of the Brent’s LBOC 2020 events, the Council has finally acknowledged their cultural importance. I hope that they won’t forget that, next time a decision has to be made about whether the murals should continue to be covered over with adverts.

(No doubt someone will remind them, should it slip their memory.)

"The Mayor with representatives of Brent Council, Quintain and Wembley History Society at the "reveal" of the tile murals on 18 January"
Photograph by Francis Waddington of Wembley History Society

RISE London Borough of Culture Event on Olympic Way, Wembley

Last night's crowd at the opening event of Brent's London Borough of Culture year was smaller than I had expected but it was a cold night. Many waited from 7pm until 7.30pm for the show to start. The effects were dramatic but there were complaints from some friends and family of performers that the stage was so low that they could not be seen.  I filmed the stage performers by lifting my camera high above my head but could not actually see them myself!