New Brent logo

This is Brent Council's new modern logo. Not sure I like it. The authority has revealed the new look to replace the old crest used since 1965 when the council was first established.

Highways major works programme

Every year I submit sites for independent inspection for replacement footway paving and resurfacing of road ways.  Some sites, such as Bertie Road, have been submitted every year as needing footway upgrades.  Even with funds of over £2m this year, it will take a number of years to catch up with repair needs as our budget for this is so limited.  This year only three Willesden Green road ways on the resurfacing list: Beaconsfield Road, part of Chapter Road (from 244 to Park Avenue) and St Andrews Road.  TfL will be funding principle road resurfacing: High Road (Dudden Hill Lane to Huddlestone) and Walm Lane (Station Parade to High Road).  No upgrades to Willesden pavements which is a real disappointment.

School exclusions in Brent 2010-2011

Permanent or temporary exclusions from school are rightly of concern to residents. It is to the credit to our school managers and teachers that Brent has a good record for dealing with the issue.  The total number of Brent resident pupils excluded from in and out-Borough schools was at its lowest (49) for more than ten years.

Permanent exclusions from Brent schools have continued to fall by 17% compared to 09-10 and by 37% compared to 08-09;

Permanent exclusions from Brent secondary schools fell to 35, a reduction of 17% compared to 09-10 and 38% compared to 08-09;

Permanent exclusions from Brent primary schools remained low at 4; 

     The most common reasons for exclusions from Brent schools were physical assault against a pupil (10/39) and persistent disruptive behaviour (9/39);

     Number of pupils with Statements of SEN excluded from Brent schools: 2;

     Number of Looked After Children excluded from Brent schools: 1.

Above planning rules?

It appears that our MP, Sarah Teather, has moved offices without the benefit of planning permission for the change of use (from chemist shop) and the installation of an illuminated sign. Both are required, especially within a conservation area. Naughty Lib Dems!

Festivals and events this summer

As this is both the Queen's Jubilee and  Olympics year, special events are being planned.


Brent Celebrates the Flame on Wednesday 25 July 2012, King Edward V11 Park, Park Lane,Wembley. Celebrate the Olympic torch relay passing through the borough. This park event is expected to attract a family audience of about 4,000 people.(Residents encouraged to take picnics and to watch performances.)


Brent Celebrates the Diamond Jubilee, Sunday 3 June 2012, Arena Square, Wembley (Residents encouraged to take picnics and to enjoy a fun afternoon watching performers and visiting stalls)       


Brent Celebrates a Golden Summer, Sunday 9 September 2012, Gladstone Park (Free event to celebrate the events of the summer and looks ahead to beyond the Olympic period). 

Small team of officers now ready to assist organisations plan and deliver their own festivals. A safety board established to monitor plans for events and security/safety aspects. 

Ward Working

Our budget session on Monday was as expected mostly an announcements of efficiencies and reduced services, so it was a pleasant surprise to hear that Ward Working funds would be doubled to £40,000 per ward.  This scheme is very popular with councillors as it enables them to work with residents to make small improvements in the wards. So it was with some surprise that the Lib Dem budget proposals suggested scrapping the scheme entirely. Clearly the group had changed their minds or had forgotten this positive reference in their 2006 election manifesto, when the scheme was known as Neighbourhood Working :


"We have successfully rolled out the Neighbourhood Working scheme, supporting 155 local projects for residents. Our scheme has allowed local councillors to invest £1.5 million in a wide range of local projects such as CCTV, sports and leisure provision for local youth groups, redevelopment of library gardens, personal alarms for vulnerable residents and creative writing courses."

Blast from the past

Always enjoyed using pithy quotes when writing essays. Found these from my past and recognise some relevance to being a councillor and attempting change.


There is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle, that to initiate a new order of things. For the reformer has enemies in all who profit by the old order. This luke-warmness arises partly from fear of their adversaries, who have law in their favour, and partly from the incredulity of mankind who do not truly believe in anything new until they have had actual experience of it. (Machiavelli)

We trained very hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form into teams, we would be reorganised. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet every new situation by reorganising; and a wonderful method it is for creating illusions of progress, whilst producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralisation. (Caius Petronius, AD66)

Cuts in Safer Neighbourhood Team

I have described the local policing and PCSO situation as "dire" and others agree.  How else should one describe when Willesden Safer Neighbourhood Team is down to 1 PC and 1 PCSO. Some very effective PCSO's have been accepted for training at Hendon to become full police officers and we do not begrudge them extending their careers. However the result is the break up of a very effective and accessible team who will no longer have the personnel to take forward all the priorities we have established with the local community.  It is ironic that the Mayor of London's office, having drastically cut funds for policing on one hand, are recruiting potential new officers on the other. Any fuss about the potential closure of Willesden police station fades to insignificance in comparison to losing the officers themselves.

Brent - a Fairtrade Borough

Brent has achieved Fairtrade borough status. Fairtrade boroughs aims to encourage people to help tackle poverty through their purchases and to demonstrate commitment to people around the world to making poverty history.  To ensure Brent achieved Fairtrade borough status, a Council resolution to support Fairtrade was passed and there was a commitment to serve Fairtrade coffee and tea at its meetings and in its offices and canteens. A local steering group was formed (the Brent Fairtrade Network ) that convenes to ensure a continued commitment to Fairtrade borough status.  The Council aims to to get a range of Fairtrade products available in a number of Brent's shops, cafes and catering establishments, and to get Fairtrade products to be used by a number of local work places and community organisations such as places of worhsip, schools etc.

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St Patrick's Day parade

The St Patrick's day celebrations will be on Saturday 17th March this year, with a parade from Willesden tube station to the Library Centre.  This will be the last event of the council's funded festivals and events programme. Brent can be rightly proud of the generous funding for a number of festivals in the past, but the drastic budget cuts we have had to make has resulted in a future programme comprising support for a much reduced offer: a borough-wide "Brent Celebrates" festival, Holocaust Memorial Day and a fireworks display.  There will also be a small specialist team to help and advise groups planning their own events.  Meanwhile, let's make this St Patrick's parade the best ever.