Local government settlements

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government,, Eric Pickles MP, has given details of the Local Government Finance Settlement 2013-14.  He described the settlement as “changes to spending power” – a handy euphemism for severe cuts. As far as Brent is concerned, we can expect 0.5% cut in 2013/14 and even more cuts in 2014/15 – 5.1%. This is a particularly worrying above average cut, with a reduction in revenue support grant of nearly £21 million being indicated for that year.

Flouting of planning rules

Some of my most time consuming case work is linked to breaches in planning and development. It can take months to bring rogue developers and owners to a position where they have to restore properties to their original condition or situation. More serious punishments are now available through the Proceeds of Crime Act and I hope eventually to encourage officers to use the Act to deal with a rogue developer currently very busy in Willesden. The Act was used successfully in a recent case in Willesden Lane:

A judge ordered a Brent landlord to pay the record sum of £1.438 million for turning a house into 12 flats without planning consent following a two year intensive investigation by the Council. The landlord must pay the sum within six months or face a 10-year prison sentence. The order to pay the money follows a prosecution brought by planning enforcement officers against a landlord who had continuously flouted planning regulations in the borough for the last ten years. Brent's Planning Enforcement Team used powers that enable councils to seek to recover the 'proceeds of crime'. The case related to the failure to comply with the requirements of a planning enforcement notice for a property on Willesden Lane which had been converted from one house into 12 flats. The £1.438 million order is believed to be the highest confiscation order granted for a planning offence in the country and is based on the assumed benefit received from breaching planning regulations. He was also ordered to pay a fine of £4000 for the breach of the planning regulations and legal costs of almost £35,000. He ignored the council's notices and as a result, profited hugely from the sub-standard accommodation he tenanted.

WIllesden pop up project award

“New Windows on Willesden Green”, was announced winner of the 2012 Regeneration and Renewal award for boosting high street vitality last month.  The scheme includes 13 flourishing pop up shops on Queen's Parade. Local entrepreneurs have been given empty shops for low rent and turned them into viable businesses which have received praise from retail royalty Mary Portas and featured in Time Out as one of the best places to shop. Shop owners have been joining in with the other businesses recently creating beautiful window displays to encourage shoppers back into the area. The Library Lab in Willesden Green Library is also still providing residents with a creative space to work from and get business advice and support. And the schemes have now been joined by Electric House which is being used to showcase the work of local artists as well as providing businesses with advice on dressing their shop windows.

Jessica Courtney Bennett Project manager said: "From working in the area for over a year we have been fortunate to meet local people who have incredible dedication in making Willesden Green a great place to live and work."

The recently formed Willesden Green Team, made up of local residents and business owners, will continue to build on the project by bringing vitality to the area for years to come. 

They have a new website launching soon at http://willesdengreenteam.co.uk/

Improvements to tube end of Chapter Road

Residents living in Chapter Rd and those using Dollis Hill Station will be pleased to know of planned improvements that I have been urging for years. The main aim of the scheme is to improve accessibility for pedestrians by improving safety at crossing points, repairing the footway and "generally improving the look and feel of the road".  Proposed improvements around the tube station include:

• Raise and pave the carriageway outside station to slow down vehicles.

• Install a raised entry treatment at Deacon Rd junction with Chapter Rd.

• Install tactile paving at all the crossing points along the section of the road.

• Repair defected bits of the footway in Chapter Rd between the station and Dudden Hill Lane.

• Remove all existing waiting restriction sign posts and provide new short posts at the back of  footway to increase the width of the pavement and provide more space for pedestrians.

• Install clear pedestrian directional signs outside the station and at the junction of Dudden Hill Lane and Chapter Rd.

•  New cycle stands and cycle hoops at key locations along the road. 

• Reduce street clutter by removing unnecessary signage, bollards and renew any essential items.

"Bomb Sight" – mapping the WW2 bombs

This fascinating site was described in this week’s Brent and Kilburn Times.  The total number of bombs dropped from 7th October 1940 to 6th June 1941 in Willesden Green was 40 (High Explosive Bombs). These roads had at least one hit:Pound Lane, Deacon Road, Villiers Rd, St Paul's Avenue, High Rd and Chapter Rd. Roundwood Park appears to have had most of the bombs.

Bomb Sight WW2 bombs census can be found at: http://bombsight.org/#10/51.4399/-0.1064

and the Willesden page at:

http://bombsight.org/explore/greater-london/brent/willesden-green/http://bombsight.org/explore/greater-london/brent/willesden-green/

Minding schools: Central government v. local authorities

There was an announcement recently that the Ministry for Education would have a very large reduction in staff. This may be seen as a positive move but it rather cuts across Secretary of State Michael Gove’s commitment to remove the influence of local authorities in his policies for academies and free schools and for such schools to be controlled centrally.  This would appear to demand more civil servants rather than fewer. The leaders of all of London’s local authorities have called on the Government to recognise the essential role of local councils in education, in tackling school places crisis and in ensuring that London schools continue to improve outcomes. This will not happen if Michael Gove bypasses local democracy by centralising control of schools in his own hands.  Conversely, the Education Secretary has hinted that a lower tier of control maybe necessary to manage the vast monitoring task. Mr Gove, it is already there, and is called local government!

White Ribbon Day 26th November 2012

White Ribbon Day is also known as the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The campaign urges males to wear a white ribbon as visible pledges never to commit, condone or remain silent about such violence. All Brent councillors are demonstrating their commitment to eradicating violence on women by wearing the ribbon and signing the pledge on Monday 26th November 2012. Members of the public are encouraged to sign the pledge too. While few men are violent towards women, many ignore the problem or consider it not having anything to do with them. However, each week, two women are killed by a violent partner or ex-partner and 70% of assaults result in injury. Such violence is experienced by 45% of women. Brent statistics: 2011/12, the percentage of reported domestic abuse incidents is 1.1% - a rate of 12.9 per 1000. A police report (2012) estimates a long term increase in domestic abuse rates of +1.4%. For the year to date (2012/13), 1.8% of Brent’s population were victims of forced marriage, and 0.9% of honour based violence. For 2011/12 sexual violence incidents are recorded for 0.1% of Brent’s population. This is a rate of 1.3 per 1000. Clearly, there remains a lot to do to raise awareness and action.

Willesden Green Town Team

The Town Team has government funding is run by a group of local residents and over the summer has been working with the Council to look at the regeneration of the High Road and Walm Lane. As well as additional funding the Town Team will also have access to a support that includes direct mentoring and visits from a range of retail experts as well as regular meetings with other Town Teams to share ideas. A number of activities are being planned in the coming months, including urban design workshops, and a special community festival.  Residents and businesses are intended to contribute ideas to enhance the High Road and Walm Lane to provide for environmental improvements and the wellbeing of all residents of the Willesden area. A major priority is to negotiate “meanwhile” use of vacant premises of which Queen's Parade has been a very successful example. The Team will be launching its own website soon. It is open to any resident or business to join and all are welcome. (Contact Peter Paddon at peter.blue@btinternet.com for any more information.)

Roundwood Youth Centre

This centre is on the border of Willesden and Kensal Wards.  It was officially opened today and visitors were treated to lively displays of dancing, singing and martial arts.  The building itself is amazing. I remember early days of planning when a number of young people were involved in presenting ideas for its design and interior. The funding promised by government was withdrawn at one stage. Without support from the Lottery (£5 million) this splendid building may not have happened. The new centre is for young people aged 13 to 19 and is packed with facilities including: a café, IT suite, multi-use games area, media area, area for sporting activities and a performance area.