One of the issues bedevilling the ConDem government's localism agenda is the way it ignores political choice. The likes of Eric Pickles don't seem to grasp the complexity of managing different needs in a universal service.
Taking parks as an example, many park users have conflicting needs. Smaller children might want playgrounds; older ones space to play sport. Many older people may simply want a quiet place to sit. Dog walkers want space that they can let their dogs off a lead, which can lead to problems over fouling. Politics is supposed to reach acceptable compromises for all these groups, but Eric Pickles vision seems to be a crude one of "the people" making a decision in some sort of town hall meeting. This would be likely to lead to:
1) Dominance of an unrepresentative group who like attending meetings.
2) Possible bullying of minorities
3) Decisions made without proper regard for evidence
4) Unrealistic assumptions around budgets and costs.
Thursday, 30 June 2011
World Flavours Market
A World Flavours Market will be starting soon (from 2 July) outside Willesden Green Library Centre. The Library Centre was never really designed with its role as a public building in mind, as I have complained before. If we go ahead with a rebuild (a big if), one of the advantages will be having a building that actually relates to its surroundings.
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Liz Mitchell from Boney M at Willesden Library Centre
There is another event at Willesden Green Library Centre on Thursday, with Liz Mitchell of Boney M. Boney M had three no. 1 albums, and two no. 1 singles, are in the UK Top 10 all-time best-selling singles list, but were also well known across Europe and Asia. Singer Liz Mitchell is orignally from Brent and will be at Willesden Library to recall her life changing experience as a Harlesden, Brent girl who in 1976 joined disco record producer Frank Farian’s Germany-based Boney M group.
It’s a family-friendly event in association with Brent libraries, where the audience will have an opportunity to ask Liz questions.
The event’s preceded by the Brent Black Music History (BBMHP) Quiz, and ends with the BBM Sound System’s ‘Brent Mix’ session. You can borrow the BBMHP DVDs or books from Brent, and selected outside borough, libraries.
WHEN: Thursday June 30 2011, 6-9.30pm
WHERE: The Space, Willesden Green Library Centre, 95 High Road, London NW10 2SF (Willesden Green. Buses 52, 98, 206, 260, 266, 302, 460).
COST/BOOKING: Free but must pre-book: www.britishblackmusic.comeditor@britishblackmusic.com
It’s a family-friendly event in association with Brent libraries, where the audience will have an opportunity to ask Liz questions.
The event’s preceded by the Brent Black Music History (BBMHP) Quiz, and ends with the BBM Sound System’s ‘Brent Mix’ session. You can borrow the BBMHP DVDs or books from Brent, and selected outside borough, libraries.
WHEN: Thursday June 30 2011, 6-9.30pm
WHERE: The Space, Willesden Green Library Centre, 95 High Road, London NW10 2SF (Willesden Green. Buses 52, 98, 206, 260, 266, 302, 460).
COST/BOOKING: Free but must pre-book: www.britishblackmusic.comeditor@britishblackmusic.com
Ward Working in Queens Park
Queens Park councillor James Denselow has asked me to publicise the different approach that Queens Park is taking to allocating their wqard working funds here.
Civic Centre at Harlesden ACF
Tonight's Area Consultative Forum (ACF) in All Souls Church, Harlesden High Street will have the new Brent Civic Centre as its main topic. I have covered the arguments for the Civic Centre previously, but if you want more detail now is your chance.
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Eric Pickles Misleading
Ben Goldacre has a typically incisive article on the poor quality analysis used in local government stories. He doesn't go beyond the particular example to point out that Eric Pickles uses misleading presentation systematically to discredit local democrary. He has done this with Council Publicity, the country's general economic situation, scaremongering around bin collections, and of course his "Chief Executives paid more than the Prime Minister" line.
Monday, 27 June 2011
High Speed Rail 2 and Brent
Whereas the proposed High Speed Rail link (HS2) has huge potential benefits, there are three areas where it might affect Brent adversely.
The most important of these is in the Willesden Junction area. If HS2 goes ahead, we could have a major regeneration benefit from the enhanced links. HS2 combined with Crossrail would give our area a quick route not just into Central London, but also up to Birmingham, and perhaps beyond. However, we won't get that benefit if Willesden Junction is not propoerly connected to the Crossrail/HS2 interchange.
Secondly, we may have an issue at the West London Waste Authority's (WLWA)Victoria Road site. This is a huge transfer site in Hillingdon. It is currently used to bulk up waste for transport by rail to Buckinghamshire. The current HS2 line slices a short stretch of the site off. Unfortunately, it is the part that contains the railway sidings. While there could be an engineering solution to this, there is an added complication. The WLWA is currently undergoing a procurement process on how it handles waste in future. It is likely that many of the bidders would be interested in using the Victoria Road site, but if there is uncertainity over whether or in what form the railway sidings survive, it may blight the procurement process.
Finally, HS2 envisages a ventilation shaft just below Queens Park Tube station. This land is owned by Brent Council. Brent Council had been hoping to use it for residential development as part of the South Kilburn regeneration. Obviously, if it is used for transport infrastructure instead, we will need compensation.
The most important of these is in the Willesden Junction area. If HS2 goes ahead, we could have a major regeneration benefit from the enhanced links. HS2 combined with Crossrail would give our area a quick route not just into Central London, but also up to Birmingham, and perhaps beyond. However, we won't get that benefit if Willesden Junction is not propoerly connected to the Crossrail/HS2 interchange.
Secondly, we may have an issue at the West London Waste Authority's (WLWA)Victoria Road site. This is a huge transfer site in Hillingdon. It is currently used to bulk up waste for transport by rail to Buckinghamshire. The current HS2 line slices a short stretch of the site off. Unfortunately, it is the part that contains the railway sidings. While there could be an engineering solution to this, there is an added complication. The WLWA is currently undergoing a procurement process on how it handles waste in future. It is likely that many of the bidders would be interested in using the Victoria Road site, but if there is uncertainity over whether or in what form the railway sidings survive, it may blight the procurement process.
Finally, HS2 envisages a ventilation shaft just below Queens Park Tube station. This land is owned by Brent Council. Brent Council had been hoping to use it for residential development as part of the South Kilburn regeneration. Obviously, if it is used for transport infrastructure instead, we will need compensation.
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Clifton Road Flytipping
I recently went with our streetcare officer to Clifton Road to enquire about the flytipping at the back of the Harlesden High Street shops. The problems has died down, now that bollards have been installed at the entrance to the service road. Another simple physical intervention solving a flytipping problem.
Saturday, 25 June 2011
Ward Working Walkabout
On the 29th June, starting at 5.30pm on Buckingham Road, I will be doing a walkabout as part of the Ward Working for the year. We will cover the Junction Associaition Area and plan to end up at the Harlesden Area Consultative Forum in All Souls Church on the same night.
Friday, 24 June 2011
Barnet Scandal
Barnet, the "EasyCouncil", seem to have come up with a serious example of misgovernance recently. This is just one of many examples of controversy in that Borough. What on earth made Eric Pickles and the Tory Party choose it as a flagship?
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Government's Academy Incompetence
The BBC story here demonstrates the sheer incompetence of the current Con Dem government. Michael Gove was responsible for the botched abolition of Building Schools for the Future and the introduction of "free schools" which will create massive problems if it goes forward. I wonder how long he can remain in office?
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Kensal Green Ward Working and Flytipping
I don't think I ever reported on the clear up of the above site between Furness Pocket Park and the railway line. The fence was only waste high, and as a result, there was constant flytipping at this site. Through ward working, we got the area cleaned up and a much higher fence installed, as can be seen from the photo I took from a number 18 bus the other day (below).
You can find out more about Kensal Green ward working here.
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Budget Decision
Midsummer Day seems as good a time as any to reflect on the year so far. Of course, local government has been dominated by the Budget decision.
A small number of people on the Hard Left advocated not setting a budget. Instead they wanted a DErek Hatton style stand off with the government. I recall pointing out to one of these armchair warriors, that this didn't seem to work very well in the 1980s. His response was that in the 1980s we had a rightwing government and a rightwing press determined to denigrate local councils that stood out against the government. When I pointed out that much the same situation was in place today, he seemed stumped for an answer.
It is notable that no local authority has gone down the Hard Left route, not even Tower Hamlets.
A small number of people on the Hard Left advocated not setting a budget. Instead they wanted a DErek Hatton style stand off with the government. I recall pointing out to one of these armchair warriors, that this didn't seem to work very well in the 1980s. His response was that in the 1980s we had a rightwing government and a rightwing press determined to denigrate local councils that stood out against the government. When I pointed out that much the same situation was in place today, he seemed stumped for an answer.
It is notable that no local authority has gone down the Hard Left route, not even Tower Hamlets.
Monday, 20 June 2011
Fortnightly Collections and Health
Whereas Eric Pickles and his various Liberal Democrat and Tory cheerleaders claim that fortnightly collections will lead to health risks, those who want to make judgements based on the evidence might think otherwise. For example, readers of this DEFRA report from some time ago can see that no adverse health outcomes are expected, provided common sense steps are taken.
Sunday, 19 June 2011
BHP Loft Conversions
A newsletter that Brent Housing Partnership (BHP) sent me informs that they have recently completed a loft conversion in Bathurst Gardens, and have others underway in Doyle Gardens, Palermo Road and Tubbs Road. This is intended to ease overcrowding. Perfectly worthy, but a drop in the Ocean compared to the size of the problem.
Brent Labour Party Web Site
Rather belatedly I have updated my link to the Brent Labour Party web site, which has been extensively revamped.
Rats, Fortnightly Collections and Eric Pickles
Patrick Butler gives an overview of the mythology around rats in England. There is no evidence that the rat population has gone up, or that charging for rat catching or fortnightly bin collections have any effect on the numbers of rats. One way in which we might have guessed this is the way that Eric Pickles constantly claims the opposite.
Saturday, 18 June 2011
Furness Road Crossing
The review of School Crossing Patrols gives another opportunity to look again at the traffic lights on the corner of Furness Road and Harlesden High Street. I have raised this with the Transport Department before, but haven't made much progress.
There are two issues.
The first is the timing of the lights, which is so short that it is very difficult to cross before the green man goes. Timing of traffic lights is in the gift of TfL rather than Brent, but we can have another go at persuading them to lengthen the gap. I think their concern is slowing up the traffic down High Street Harlesden, which is a legitimate one. However, we need to decide whether traffic down the High Street takes primacy over the safety and comfort of pedestrians not only trying to get to Furness School, but also down the Harrow Road footpath to Willesden Junction.
Secondly, there is the slip road that drivers turning left off Furness Road down Harrow Road NW10 use. There is no control on it at the moment, and I have long been trying to persuade the Transport engineers to put in a filter. There is, in fact, such a scheme, but it has failed to attract funding. Perhaps the review of School Crossing Patrols may provide an opportunity to reprioritise this junction.
There are two issues.
The first is the timing of the lights, which is so short that it is very difficult to cross before the green man goes. Timing of traffic lights is in the gift of TfL rather than Brent, but we can have another go at persuading them to lengthen the gap. I think their concern is slowing up the traffic down High Street Harlesden, which is a legitimate one. However, we need to decide whether traffic down the High Street takes primacy over the safety and comfort of pedestrians not only trying to get to Furness School, but also down the Harrow Road footpath to Willesden Junction.
Secondly, there is the slip road that drivers turning left off Furness Road down Harrow Road NW10 use. There is no control on it at the moment, and I have long been trying to persuade the Transport engineers to put in a filter. There is, in fact, such a scheme, but it has failed to attract funding. Perhaps the review of School Crossing Patrols may provide an opportunity to reprioritise this junction.
Friday, 17 June 2011
Kensal Green Ward Panel
I went to the Kensal Green Ward Panel on Wednesday. These are run by each Safer Neighbourhood Team in order to connect the Police to the local community. Attendance at the Kensal Green ones has been fairly low, although Wednesday was an exception. They are normally held in St Marks Church and are open to all residents of Kensal Green. The next two meetings are scheduled for 15 September and 15 December.
Afterwards, I went for an impromptu walkabout with our streetcare officer. It is surprising how many things you can pick up in a short walk. The weeds on Palemro Road that I complained about a couple of weeks ago are now gone. The potholes I reported at the bottom of Odessa Road have been marked for repair.
There is a slightly strange situation at the top of Tubbs Road. Someone appears to have put some limestone like substance down in order to soak up oil. The heavy rain recently has washed it all over the street. For this reason, the Council will be suspending the parking at the top of Tubbs Road, so that a mechanical cleaner can clear the road surface properly. There is also a disabled parking bay in the same area whose markings have faded, so that will need to be repainted.
In the same walkabout, we found a leaking hydrant on Harlesden High Street, and another Thames Water leak at the crossing of Nightingale Road and High Street Harlesden. A resident complained to us about flytipping on Nightingale Road, and we identified a broken streetlight on Station Road.
Quite a lot to find in a twenty minite walk.
Afterwards, I went for an impromptu walkabout with our streetcare officer. It is surprising how many things you can pick up in a short walk. The weeds on Palemro Road that I complained about a couple of weeks ago are now gone. The potholes I reported at the bottom of Odessa Road have been marked for repair.
There is a slightly strange situation at the top of Tubbs Road. Someone appears to have put some limestone like substance down in order to soak up oil. The heavy rain recently has washed it all over the street. For this reason, the Council will be suspending the parking at the top of Tubbs Road, so that a mechanical cleaner can clear the road surface properly. There is also a disabled parking bay in the same area whose markings have faded, so that will need to be repainted.
In the same walkabout, we found a leaking hydrant on Harlesden High Street, and another Thames Water leak at the crossing of Nightingale Road and High Street Harlesden. A resident complained to us about flytipping on Nightingale Road, and we identified a broken streetlight on Station Road.
Quite a lot to find in a twenty minite walk.
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Willesden Social Club Site
I have now found out a bit more about the old Social Club site on Rucklidge Avenue. The squatters were moved on by environmental health (accompanied by the Police). Apparently, the site was left as a significant environmental nuisance. This may help to speed the CPO process that was started some time ago.