Reviewing the Past Half Year

At around this time,  like to review the achievements of the past six months.  I guess the biggest thing has been the successful launch of our new recycling system.  Looking over at Ealing, it is impressive that Brent had so few problems in comparison _ a tribute to the careful planning involved.  As a result, our recycling rate has seen a step change.  We now need to drive this further, and sort out the continuing disengagement by some households.

The second big achievement was our acquisition of Fairtrade Status.  This was originally an all party commitment, but the previous Tory / Lib Dem administration had rather given up on it.  It represents the culmination of years of effort to become a Fairtrade Borough.

Most time consuming has been going through the various legal processes around the Library service.  I think our success in Court demonstrates that Brent is thorough and careful in its decision making.  Most Boroughs have ducked the issue and will see their services decline, either through gradually fading "volunteer" services, or through hollowing out their traditional services with cuts in the books budget and opening hours.   I understand our approach has been controversial but I believe that by 2014/15 we will have more visitors and book loans than we had under the old system.  We can now move into the positive agenda that anyone who believes in libraries should welcome, including: seven day opening, the refurbishment of Kilburn Library, the refurbishment of Ealing Road Library, a new Wembley Library, a rebuilt Willesden Library (amazingly some of the "save the Library" campaigners actually wanted Willesden Library to be closed permanently), a stronger relationship with schools and many other outside bodies, more events and an improved online service.

We have also had successes in less noticed fields, such as our Arts Strategy, a new planting regime in parks and in pursuing the climate change agenda.

In the ward, I believe that the applications at the Green Man and Willesden Social Club offer a chance to sort out the long standing problems at that end of Rucklidge Avenue.  We will shortly see the opening of the new Roundwood Youth Centre (which was only just saved from government cuts).  I have also been pushing on the street cleaning issues in parts of the ward around Harlesden High Street.  This is a long haul problem without any quick solutions, but I think it is getting more attention than at any time in the past.