Brent Cycling Campaign: More questions than answers in Brent's Climate Strategy Update

From Brent Cycling Campaign 

We are pleased to see things moving forward over climate, particularly with the ongoing commitment to school streets, the proposal for "Sustainable Neighbourhood" pilots, and the funding of community groups working in this field. However, this update 2022-2024 leaves us with more questions than answers.

 

The Brent Climate Emergency Strategy 2021-2030 has a dedicated chapter on Transport with the following objective: "By 2030, petrol and diesel road journeys will have at least halved in the borough, being driven as close as possible to zero, with an accompanying increase in journeys made by residents through cycling, walking or public transport." This will not happen by itself if no measures on the ground are introduced to support residents with switching transport modes for at least some of their journeys, if not the majority. 

 

The strategy also mentioned that transport was the "second most important theme that should be prioritised in the eyes of the Brent Climate Assembly as a means of tackling the climate emergency". It also clearly laid out that road transport was one of the biggest sources of carbon pollution in Brent. We are therefore surprised to see the lack of proposals for transport. Cargo bike trials for businesses, and space for parking cycles are important but if there is hardly anywhere to ride that feels safe and convenient, whether you are 7 or 77, this will not amount to a significant change in transport behaviour.

 

Earlier this year, the Mayor of London outlined what would be required if London were to achieve decarbonisation by 2030: "In order to meet the climate change targets, car traffic must reduce by at least 27% in London by the end of the decade." To achieve this, we need safe space for cycling which is consistent, linked up, safe and inclusive. We need a network of safe routes to schools, to high streets, to hospitals and GPs which are children-friendly and inclusive. We need Climate Safe Streets. 

 

Our question is: where is the urgency to tackle transport? Where is the joined-up thinking? According to the delivery plan to be presented to cabinet on Monday, there will only be two years left for the current administration to build the environment Brent residents will need to choose active travel and move away from car reliance. If by 2026, we do not see the infrastructure in place to support residents transitioning away from motor vehicles, it will be too late. 

 

 

 

 

 

Progress and set-backs in Brent's Climate Strategy on the Cabinet Agenda tomorrow

 Tomorrow's Cabinet will be discussing progress and plans for Brent's Climate Strategy. It is a mixed bag with progress in some areas, with many small projects that contribute to change, but some major areas at a near standstill.

 

As a former 'daily cyclist' I was disappointed by the lack of any plans for an improvement in the borough's cycling infrastructure. There is a promise of more cycle hangars and projects for cargo bike deliveries for town centres and pilot projects for Neighbourhood Sustainability Schemes.  However that does not answer the need for joined up safe cycle routes for commuting and leisure needed across the borough to encourage more cars off the road and reduce pollution. In particular the north-south barrier of the North Circular Road remains to be tackled.

 

The report notes:

 

The council’s delivery of Healthy Neighbourhood schemes in the borough encountered public opposition, which was reported to the council’s Cabinet in January 2022. As a result, one Healthy Neighbourhood in the Stonebridge/Harlesden area has been implemented.

 

The remaining four schemes which were being trialled at Olive Road, Dollis Hill, Preston Road and Tokyngton and Wembley area schemes have been removed. It is acknowledged that collaborative design with the community would help to engender public support for future measures, and these will need to be effective in preventing through traffic and trialled for a longer period, potentially 12 months.

 

This action is therefore being rolled over into the 2022-24 delivery plan, with officers preparing a report for consideration by the Council’s Cabinet on the future approach to developing and delivering Healthy Neighbourhood schemes.

 

The development and implementation of future schemes will depend on future funding being made available for that purpose

 

School Streets have been relatively successful and there are plans for three 'place led' sustainability pilot projects. Two are 'Neighbourhood led' and one 'Development led':

 

Perhaps the most innovative and efficient way of demonstrating greater focus,pace, visibility and impact on the climate and ecological emergency agenda is through the designation and implementation of a new place-based approach.

This would be delivered through piloting ‘Sustainable Neighbourhoods’ in a number of areas within the borough in which the council would seek to target a dedicated proportion of its sustainability investment and activity.

Part of the rationale for this is to forge a strong partnership with local communities within these localities, demonstrating how tackling the climate and ecological emergency relates to local areas in Brent and showcasing the holistic benefits it can bring. Another benefit of this approach is that it would provide the opportunity to learn lessons for delivery in order to replicate the actions undertaken in these pilots in other areas of the borough beyond 2023.

 

There are two key differential elements within Brent’s approach to selecting suitable locations. The first is that we propose to undertake two ‘Neighbourhood-led’ pilots, that would be delivered and completed by the end of 2023, and the second is to undertake one ‘Development-led’ pilot, that would be longer-term and focused around the new development pipeline, aiming to complete by the end of 2025/26.

 

 Selecting 'Neighbourhood led' Pilot

 

Considering the north of the borough, an area around Kingsbury/Roe Green is considered to be a highly suitable area to undertake a neighbourhood- led pilot. The area selected would encompass parts of Queensbury and Kingsbury wards.

When considering the south of the borough, a locality in and around Church End/ Roundwood is a strong candidate for a neighbourhood-led pilot. The area selected would encompass parts of the Roundwood and Harlesden & Kensal Green wards.

 

Selecting a ‘Development-led’ Pilot

The process of selecting a ‘development-led’ pilot area was more dependent on the milestones within the development pipeline and in particular, the timing of the design stages and opportunities to integrate new sustainability considerations. The best opportunities to embed environmental sustainability and potential for net zero new builds is felt to be through incorporating these objectives into the New Council Homes Programme, in particular those schemes which are currently being considered for feasibility.

 

Following review of eight schemes within the council’s New Council Homes development pipeline, South Kilburn was identified as the most suitable area for undertaking a development-led pilot. It is also proposed that an increased emphasis on sustainability is placed on the regeneration plans for St Raphael’s Estate.

I found it difficult to pinpoint exactly what was involved in these pilots and hope that more detail will emerge later.

 

An area where there has been a great focus nationally is the retrofitting of existing properties to make them energy efficient, particularly in the face of the cost of energy crisis. It is an enormous task needing national funding and so local efforts appear quite insignificant and somewhat vague in terms of timelines:

 

The first year of the tower block works programme was due to see work begin on three tower blocks – Kilburn Square, Manor Court and Lodge Court. Unfortunately there has been limited progress on this action in 2021-22 due to a delay in the procurement of the supply chain due to construction market conditions; and due to the need for a more extensive consultation with tenants and leaseholders. This action will therefore be rolled over as a specific action into the new 2022-24 delivery plan.

 

The assessment of the council’s own housing stock has completed and will provide a valuable basis for both the development of a comprehensive energy efficiency strategy for our own stock, and strengthen the evidence base for the council to submit bids for external funding to undertake retrofitting work.

 

We have undertaken three pioneering retrofit pilots on void street properties within our own stock. The properties were fitted with thermal efficient internal and external insulation, energy efficient windows, energy saving heating and power source with photovoltaic panels on the roof. Smart House Measures will also be included to ensure monitoring of energy efficiency after the tenant has moved in. We will apply the learning of the retrofit work undertaken on these building archetypes to similar sites across our stock wherever possible.

 

 

When the regeneration of the Wembley Stadium  area began more than a decade ago Brent Green Party advocated the setting up of a Green Enterprise zone where small innovative green business start-ups would be encouraged by initial business rate concessions and links made with the College of North West London in providing apprenticeships and training in green technologies, retrofitting etc.  LINK Criticism was made of over-reliance on retail in the area to provide jobs.

 

 

Brent Council in a welcome initiative is now engaged in something along those lines in terms of the education aspect but it would make sense to link this with SME business support:

Over the course of this year we have established a strong partnership with United Colleges to deliver a new Green Skills Centre at the Willesden Campus of College of North West London. Scheduled to open in summer 2022, the hub will offer a range of green skills courses for students in the local area and from across the city. The courses available at the new hub will focus on the green agenda and a wide range of construction and engineering subjects. Students will be able to learn about air source heat pumps, electrical vehicle charging, internal and external wall insulation, and a variety of other sustainable technologies. The exciting and forward-thinking new hub will enable educators, employers, and other organisations to work in partnership to develop a programme that promotes employability, learning, and skills.

 

It is hard to do justice to all the documentation in a short blog post so do check out the Delivery Plan and the  Progress Report.

 

 

Additional documents:

• 08a. Appendix A - Climate Strategy 2022-24 Delivery Plan PDF 690 KB
• 08b. Appendix B - Place-based Approach Recommended Sustainable Neighbourhoods pilots (Neighbourhood-Led) PDF 2 MB
• 08c. Appendix C - Place-based Approach Recommended Sustainable Neighbourhoods pilot (Development-led) PDF 806 KB
• 08d. Appendix D - Place-based Approach Enhanced sustainability focus as part of regeneration plans PDF 642 KB
• 08e. Appendix E - Brent Carbon Offset Fund (CO2GO) Allocations PDF 623 KB
• 08f. Appendix F - Climate and Ecological Emergency 2021-22 Delivery Plan Progress Report PDF 663 KB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bush Farm Collective calls for support for its 'You Decide' bid to broaden activities

 

The Bush Farm Collective, based at Bush Farm, Kingsbury in Fryent Country Park, are seeking support for their community funding bid to improve the facility.

This is their message:

 

Lets make Bush Farm come to life

Bushfarm has held a number of amazing community events so far, now it is looking to broaden its range of activities in a number of ways from eco and agricultural workshops, music and art. Making these accessible to all, including many who usually would not be able to have these opportunities.

 

 

However, it needs your help to make this possible...

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Bush Farm has made an application for funding to go towards a year of educational programs, vegetable garden, outdoor learning facilities and dog safe area including an agility course.

Bushfarm needs Brent residents to vote for it in the current funding round, in order to provide these activities for the community.

 

To vote, simply register first using this LINK. This will give you the time and dates available for you to come and vote. 

 

 The vote is just for the Kingsbury and Kenton Brent Connects area and takes place on Saturday June 25th - Neighbourhood CIL bids are from 1pm to 3.30pm.

Note this is the Kingsbury and Kenton Brent Connects Area so it includes Barn Hill and Chalkhill.

 VENUE:

Kingsbury High School, Tyler's Hall

Bacon Lane

Kingsbury

London

NW9 9AT

View map

Would you like to be part of Bush Farm?

Bush farm is a place of connection, to give people the chance to be involved in projects they may have never had the opportunity to do so before. We are developing partnerships to deliver community and educational activities. You could become a volunteer or even holding your own classes. we would like to be able to share bush farms amazing space for an array of learning and well being.

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Opportunities for volunteers- community gardening, manning events and education programs, marketing and communications

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Ideas for classes you could hold- we can host a range of community activites such as yoga, art, music etc if you would like to be involved in delivering in your area of expertise please be in touch

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We would love to hear from you. Please send us an email with any questions or ideas.

EMAIL

Video: Today's #WeDemandBetter TUC sponsored march

 

Watling Gardens – a rushed (and incorrect) Report to Monday's Cabinet

 Guest post by Philip Grant in a personal capacity

 

Extract from the Affordable Housing Statement in Brent’s planning application 21/2473.

 

When Brent Council submitted their planning application for the redevelopment of their Watling Gardens estate they said: ‘Brent Council are fully committed to delivering these much-needed new affordable homes.’ Then suddenly, at the last minute, they want to change that, so that 20% of the homes there will not be genuinely affordable.

 

Less than 24 hours ago, I wrote a guest post about a Report on 1 Morland Gardens for the Cabinet meeting at 10am on Monday morning, which had only been published on Thursday afternoon. I mentioned that there was another Report for that meeting which had still not been published. Giving Cabinet members, other councillors and the public so little notice of important issues where decisions are to be made is bad for local democracy, and it can also lead to bad decisions.

 

The Watling Gardens Report was only published at around 3pm on Friday afternoon. It asks the Cabinet to approve the award of a contract ‘in the sum of £38,535,634. In order to make the Watling Gardens scheme viable, it also recommends that Cabinet: ‘Approve the tenure changes of 24 homes (19 x 1 bedrom homes and 5 x 2 bedroom) from London Affordable Rent to Shared Ownership.’

 

I had looked at the Watling Gardens planning application, and felt that something was not right with that recommendation, nor the “facts” given in the Report to support it. I had another look, then immediately sent an email to Brent’s Legal Director and the Strategic Director (Community and Wellbeing) who had signed off the Report. This is that email (sent at 4:14pm on Friday):

 

‘Misinformation in Report to Cabinet on Watling Gardens (item 16 on Monday's agenda)

Dear Ms Norman and Mr Porter,

 

The Report on item 16 (Award of Contract for Watling Gardens) for Monday morning's Cabinet meeting was only published at around 3pm today. 

 

I realise that this is an urgent matter (and that: 'Due to urgency, a waiver of call-in has been obtained in relation to the decision to be taken by Cabinet.'), but that does not excuse the Report containing what appears to be incorrect information, which might lead Brent's Cabinet to make an unlawful, as well as rushed, decision.

 

The misinformation I am referring to is at paras. 3.3 and 3.6:

 

'3.3 The planning consent gained for this site is for a 100% affordable housing scheme.'  

 

'3.6  Therefore, officers recommend the change of 25 of the 125 homes to be converted to shared ownership as in recommendation 2.1. There will be no change to the planning approval required as this is an affordable housing product, on which the council receive 25% capital receipt at the point of sale and staircasing receipts usually from year 5 onwards. The properties would be fulfilling a need within Brent for people unable to register for affordable rented housing but not able to access the open market due to salary levels.'

 

The planning consent is not just for '100% affordable housing.'

 

Planning Committee, when they approved the application, did so on the basis that the 125 homes would be a mix of Social Rent and London Affordable Rent.

 

The consent letter of 25 April 2022 contained a specific condition over what type of affordable homes had been consented to:

 

Condition 3 from planning consent letter of 25 April 2022 on application 21/2473

 

 

There is no indication on Brent's planning website that there has been any change in this condition under application 21/2473, so that making a decision, and awarding a contract, which converted 24 (or 25?) of the 125 homes to shared ownership would involve Brent Council breaching its planning consent for the Watling Gardens scheme.

 

 

This point needs to be put right, so that Cabinet members are aware of the correct position well before they are asked to make a decision on the Watling Gardens contract.

 

 

The Report says that it affects Mapesbury and Kilburn Wards, but as I am not sure which Ward the site falls into following the boundary changes, I am copying this email to councillors for Cricklewood & Mapesbury and Kilburn Wards. Yours, 

 

Philip Grant.

DEMAND BETTER: join the TUC demonstration tomorrow. Assemble Portland Place from 11am, start March at noon and Rally in Parliament Square at 1pm

 

 

From the TUC

 

This Saturday, workers, families and pensioners will be marching through London as the TUC holds our We Demand Better demonstration. With hundreds of coaches booked from every part of the country and the weather set fair, it’s shaping up to be a memorable day. And we’ll be delivering a simple message to the government: enough is enough. 

 

With a PM who is more concerned with his own job security than anybody else’s, and a Chancellor who spends more heating his swimming pool than a minimum wage worker earns in a year, it’s time for change. Trade unions are fighting for action on the cost of living, for higher wages, and for a New Deal for working people.

 

We believe the cost-of-living emergency is the result of political choices made in Downing Street. Of course, it’s hard for government to control global energy prices – but austerity, benefit cuts and attacks on unions have held our living standards back. Even now, with City bonuses rising six times faster than wages, ministers are choosing to tax working people rather than wealth. And just last week, the PM warned workers against bargaining for higher pay.

 

The pressures facing households are getting worse. It now costs more than £100 to fill a family car, with many low-paid workers unable to drive to work. Energy bills are set to rise 23 times faster than wages. And next year, the influential OECD think tank forecasts zero growth for the UK economy – the worst performance among the G20 industrial nations, apart from Russia.

 

Rather than the Chancellor’s belated, half-hearted support package, we need real change. A decent pay rise for public sector workers. Fair pay agreements. A £15 minimum wage. And the Employment Bill we’ve been promised not once, not twice . . . but 20 times. And instead of bashing unions, ministers should back working people and boost collective bargaining.

 

But if the government won’t do what’s right, then we will. We are the trade union movement – and standing up for working people is what we do. And that includes workers who feel they have no alternative but to vote for industrial action to win fair treatment.

 

Now is the time to stand up for what we believe in. If you’ve had enough of this rotten government, and if you’re fed up with everything going up but wages, then join us in London this Saturday. And encourage your workmates, friends, family and neighbours to come too – and encourage everyone to join a union.

It's time to demand better. See you from 10.30 am in Portland Place.

 

18TH JUNE WE DEMAND BETTER PROTEST - BRENT TUC DELEGATION

JOINING THE DEMO ARRANGEMENTS

 

Brent TUC delegates and supporters will join the demo as a group so they can

march together behind BTUC's banner. 

11.30 meet at Regents Park Station on the Bakerloo line.