James Powney's Blog

After many years of downright hostile reporting on Brent libraries , it seems that the Kilburn Times has finally just published a straight p...

Brent's local welfare scheme appears to be staggering on.  I remember devoting a lot of time to trying to make the Brent scheme work , ...

It looks to me that the UK's long period of mistimed austerity is about to be replaced by a mini-boom in spending.  There is no doubt th...

There is an appalling proposal to build a twenty storey development on the site of the church at 2 Scrubs Lane.  Anyone who knows that area ...

It is interesting to see how Ashford Place Community Cafe is developing.  Although Ashford Place has a long history , the community cafe id...

Tonight's Brent Council Cabinet report on business rates makes passing reference to a "lack of clarity" about the government...

It is sometimes said that the decline of libraries in the UK is inevitable and part of a wider social change.  I think the success of the B...

The Government has finally decided to some research into whether volunteer libraries work .  Frankly, it is rather late in the day.  As I ha...

Brent Labour Party has now selected all its Council candidates for next year's elections.  I imagine the other parties are in the proces...

Following the news that Wembley appears to be subjected entirely to market forces, forces that have demonstrably failed to meet housing need...

Buildings in the Willesden Jewish Cemetery have been given grade II listing in the 150th year of the United Synagogue.  It follows an earli...

Martin Francis tells us that Bertha Joseph is selected as a Conservative candidate in Brondesbury.  Presumably he has good sources in the T...

Martin Francis has picked up on a government grant for build for rent properties in Wembley.  None of the units appear to be "affordab...

One possible development worth keeping an eye is a possible expansion of Willesden Junction Station .  I have argued the importance of this ...

I am concerned at the political gesture of the overhasty decision to spend £10 million on fire safety at Brent housing properties without se...

This morning there is a meeting of the Alcohol and Licensing Committee.  This will give Cllr Sabina Khan, a new appointee to that committee,...

The sheer indiscipline of the Cabinet over the past couple of weeks shows how dysfunctional our "strong and stable" government ha...

The Manor Park Road development has returned I see .  I regretted the withdrawal of the former proposal .  While the principle of developing...

Right at the end of last week's Brent Council Cabinet there is a document recommending a £17.8 million spend on the public realm around ...

Further to yesterday's post , the Chief Executive's letter makes clear the difficult state of housing finance in Brent.  It correct...