Recycling mattresses

Visited the reuse and recycling centre this week to deposit some of my own recycling. Discovered that it is even possible to recycling mattresses and that the centre has a skip for mattress deposits. Apparently they are stripped down primarily for the metal springs.  Bed bases and mattresses seem to be the main item for dumping in front gardens and on pavements, when a call to the council for a free collection (020 8937 5050) would mean the mattress could be recycled, when mattresses left dumped on a pavement would probably be rejected as contaminated.

Safety Award

Brent Council has been given the National Transport Award as best authority for road safety, traffic management & enforcement.  This is a tribute to the huge reduction in traffic accidents in the Borough over the past few years. It demonstrates how seriously we take road safety.

Willesden Sports Centre's 5th 'birthday'

Good to visit the Willesden Sports Centre on it's birthday. Was very involved in its planning when lead member for the environment.  Lots of worries along the way mostly to do with funding. I remember being involved in the 'topping our' ceremony. It was suggested at the beginning of the planning process that it should be built alongside the existing centre and to return the original site to park land when completed. Local residents were against this so the centre was closed and out of action for around 2 years. Pity, as it would have worked. Centre now provides a valuable facility for local people and well worth the efforts made at the time.

Refurbished play area for Unity Close

The planning application for the refurbishing of the playground in Unity Close has been posted. Thus is a long overdue refurbishment welcomed by residents. The application is submitted by Stadium Housing, one of the housing associations managing the estate. The proposal is to install a multi-use games area (MUGA) with 3m high boundary fence, a new play area and alterations and proposed new path, seating and planting area to form an attractive seating area for older residents. Willesden councillors will make a contribution to the cost from the Willesden Ward Working scheme.

Brent: Lowest for complaints 2010-2011

Brent Council has achieved the lowest rate of London boroughs for complaints upheld by the Ombudsman.  Just 6% of complaints about the Council considered were upheld, compared with a London average of 21% and a national average of 27%. In addition, the total number of complaints received by the Council dropped 36% compared with 2009-2010, and stage 2 and 3 complaints also fell. Revenue and Benefits achieved the largest reduction with complaints falling 70%.

Burney Surgery saved!

As earlier posts show (search this blog for Burnley posts), I have been very active in persuading Brent PCT to abandon their proposal to close this surgery and relocate patients to other doctors. I was in regular touch with patients in both Willesden Green and Dudden Hill Wards who were very upset by the proposed closure. Following representations from all Willesden and Dudden Hill councillors, the PCT had second thoughts and undertook to commission a new management arrangement. Now NHS Brent has completed an open tender procurement process for the Practice, with the successful bidder being 'social enterprise' company, Innovision Healthcare Ltd based in North London, working extensively with Enfield, Haringey and Camden PCTs. Innovision will also be managing the local enhanced service for homelessness for Brent. The contract has a start date of 1st November 2011, with the same members of staff and the Willesden Health Centre location. I also understand that other GP practices could be relocated to the Willesden Centre and that a better location within the Health Centre would be sought.  Patient power can still work in these troubled times for the NHS!

Green Charter

Brent has just adopted a “Green Charter” which is intended to help us protect our environment.  Areas covered include reducing carbon emissions, reducing waste and increasing recycling, sustainable development and transportation, sustainable land use and the protection of wildlife.   A pleasing feature is that Brent has done enough to apply to be a Fair Trade borough – a valuable contribution to achieving the sustainable food and purchasing commitment.

Community Infrastructure Levy

The use of Planning Obligations (S106 agreements) were legal agreements between the council and developers negotiated through the planning application system.  The purpose was to mitigate the negative impact of developments to provide new infrastructure such as new roads or new schools. Brent standardised much of the S106 system so that what a developer paid related to the number of homes developed.  With the new Community Infrastructure Levy, (CIL) the government requires councils to go further with this idea and to levy a straight per square metre charge on all development over a given size.  Also, with CIL, there will have to be a more local determination as to how the funds are allocated and will involve ward councillors and residents in decisions.

New developments for Willesden?

Hoping some news will do good things for Willesden!  Firstly, will a developer be interested in rebuilding the library centre at no cost to the council in return for some housing and/or retail land.  The centre is expensive to maintain and has empty space which could be better used to provide a council "hub" where residents in the south of the borough could access more services. The centre as it is an expensive space to maintain. We should know sometime in November how finding an interested developer has progressed.  Secondly, Willesden has the half a million to revitalise the town centre from the London Mayor's High Road project fund. An additional bid is being prepared. More details of how these funds will be spent should be known at the end of October. Will be updating the news as soon as known.