Willesden Green Cultural Centre application

The Planning Committee met on 21^st February to consider the Willesden Cultural Centre applications.  The Committee resolved to agree to grant in principle, with the final determination left to the relevant Director, subject to:

(b) any direction by the Mayor of London to refuse the application. In accordance with Article 5 of the Town & Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008 following the Council’s determination of this application, the Mayor is allowed 14 days to decide whether to allow the draft decision to proceed unchanged or direct the Council under Article 6 to refuse the application;

(c) Satisfactory prior completion of a Section 106(s). (Funding from developer for local improvements etc.)

The application also awaits the report on the Town Green application.

Section 106 conditions includes the funds for: 

- A phasing plan to ensure that a number of residential units shall not be occupied until WGCC   built and fitted out.

- Up to £40,000 towards improvement of local bus stops.

- “Permit free” on housing element of scheme.

- Achieve sustainability checklist.
- Join the Considerate Contractors Scheme (CCS).

- Travel Plans for WGCC and housing element.

- Training Package “Brent in2 work.”

- S278 Highway Works, relating to works to Grange Rd, High Rd, Brondesbury Walk and Brondesbury Park, which will include streetscape enhancements.

- Not less than £30,000 of the build cost of the WGCC element towards public art in the public areas of the building.

- up to £10,000 for the promotion and implementation of “car clubs” in the locality.

- Servicing Management Plan for WGCC.

Child poverty in Brent

An article in the Kilburn and Brent Times (28/2/1013) reported that a study of child poverty in Brent found  the largest proportion were living in Brent Central. The “End Child Poverty” coalition group found 42% of children living in Stonebridge Ward were suffering from relative poverty, just below was Harlesden Ward with 39% and 34% in Willesden Ward.  Having met Willesden families struggling with a low income, I know these statistics are likely to be accurate. According to the government, families with children who are earning less than 60% median income (currently £26, 500 for 2013) are classed as living in poverty.  There is an additional formula used depending on the adult- child ration so for example, a couple with 2 children under 16 who earn less than a total of £18,300 are living in poverty.  But a single parent with 2 children would be classed as living in poverty if the are taking home less than £14,000.  This figure is £11,300 for a single parent with 1 child.