Monthly Archives: January 2011

Liberal Democrats call for protection of funding for vulnerable adults

Posted on January 31, 2011 | Leave a comment

Liberal Democrat councillors today welcomed the removal of much ring fencing of local government funding, but proposed local protection for funding for the important services that the “Supporting People funding” provides.

The Supporting People funding is used to provide housing related support to help vulnerable people to live as independently as possible in the community. This can be in their own homes or in hostels, sheltered housing or other specialised supported housing.

Many providers of Supporting People services are saying they are concerned at the prospect of reduced funding.

The Liberal Democrats put the motion to this week’s January Full Council – however, Labour councillors blocked it stating they couldn’t guarentee the funding.

Talking after the meeting Cllr James Allie said,

“The funding which comes under the ‘supporting people’ heading pays for really important services to the most vulnerable in society, such as things like sheltered housing. Labour claim they are the guardians of the sick, disabled and excluded, it’s a real shame then that Labour refused to agree to protect the funding to the some of the most vulnerable in Brent. In difficult economic times the importance of making sensible local decisions is key. By dismissing our proposals Labour have proved they can’t do that.”

The Liberal Democrat motion read:

This Council:

1. Welcomes the removal of much ring-fencing associated with Local Government funding, enabling Councils to manage their finances to better meet local needs.

2. Notes the important services that the Supporting People funding provides.

3. Calls on Brent Council’s Executive to ensure that the funding received for Supporting People schemes is protected locally to ensure that services to some of the most vulnerable in our community remain secured.

 

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Posted in Adult Care, Housing, Labour Failure, Voluntary Sector

Liberal Democrats introduce Kenton candidate

Posted on January 31, 2011 | Leave a comment

Today Brent Liberal Democrats introduced their candidate for the Kenton Ward (Brent) by-election, a Brent resident of 42 years standing, Chunilal Hirani.
Chunilal has lived in in Brent since 1968 and is originally from Nairobi, Kenya. His wife is originally from Uganda and together they made a home in Brent, raising their children here, all of whom now live in Brent and Harrow.

Over the years Chunilal Hirani has been active in many local organisations such as the Hindu Council Brent, Brent Indian Association and his local community organisation Limbachia as well as undertaking much voluntary work in the community.  Until May 2010 was a Councillor in Brent and gained great experience on committees such as the Planning Committee.

Chunilal says he will be campaigning for a fair deal for local residents and is pleased at the news that Brent residents will see a freeze in Council Tax for the second year in a row, this time thanks to Liberal Democrats in Government. He’s also please the Coalition Government has restored the earnings link to pensions – offering a fair deal for Brent’s pensioners.

He is already campaigning against the closure of Preston Road library, which will have a direct impact on a large part of Kenton ward. He too was horrified to see the poor consultation being carried out by Labour-run Brent Council on the proposals to close 6 libraries. Only three public meetings are being held – none of them were in Preston Road library.

As with other Liberal Democrats Chunilal has expressed concerned about Barry Gardiner’s Labour Party’s plans to cut street sweeping and scrap weekly bin collections, fearing both will drag Brent back to the bad old Labour days of dirty streets.

Speaking about the by-election Chunilal said,

“I’m really pleased to get this opportunity to represent the people of Kenton. Barry Gardiner’s Labour Party are making cuts at Brent Council without any real plan. People’s bins will be emptied less, their streets swept less, local library closed – all of which Labour decided on at a plush hotel in Buckinghamshire! The people of Kenton deserve better representation than that and I’d like to provide it.”

Commenting on the Liberal Democrat candidate, Leader of Brent Council Liberal Democrats, Cllr Paul Lorber, said,

“It’s great news that Chunilal has agreed to stand for us. He’s been an important part of Brent’s community for many years and will make an excellent councillor for Kenton. Local people have a chance to use their vote to send Labour a message that they reject Labour’s plans to close Preston Road Library, to cut street cleaning and refuse collections and to stop Labour’s waste on their £9,000 a year away days.”

 

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Posted in Elections, Liberal Democrats

Labour cancels Christmas…and Eid and St Patrick’s Day and Navratri…

Posted on January 31, 2011 | Leave a comment

Liberal Democrat councillors today called on residents to make sure they voice their opinions in the forth coming consultation by Labour-run Brent Council on its new so called “Arts and Festival Strategy”. The new strategy proposes cutting all festivals except Diwali, Holocaust Memorial Day, Bonfire Night and a new generic “Brent Festival”.

This will see funding for the Eid festival, Christmas lights, the very well attended annual St Patrick’s Day parade and Navratri festival, attended by tens of thousands of residents, slashed. And although the Diwali festival will continue, its budget will be cut by £25,000.

Labour’s proposals will see funding for festivals slashed by nearly a quarter of a million pounds – £230,000. The second option is to cut everything and save £426,000.

There will be a consultation on the Labour Administration cuts running from January 31st to April 18th – Brent Liberal Democrat Councillors are urging residents and community groups, especially those involved in the festivals to have their say before it’s too late.

Speaking about the cuts Cllr Daniel Brown, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environment and Neighbourhood Services,

“Labour want to cancel Christmas, as well as many other festivals across Brent. I’m sure they’ll try and blame reductions in funding, but will fail to mention these have been by the Labour Government’s mismanagement of the economy. I’d really urge residents and community groups who take part in these wonderful events, which bring together so many parts of our community, to make sure they let Labour know their views on slashing the funding.”

The report on the new Arts and Festivals Strategy went to the Labour Executive on Monday 17th December.

When in Government, Labour increased public spending so far above what they could pay for – the difference between tax receipts and spending – that the Government had to borrow around £150 billion a year just to plug the gap. The Coalition Government has to reduce public spending to try to reduce that yearly, Labour-caused debt over the next 5 years – and bring how much we spend more in line with how much we earn as a country.

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Posted in Community, Labour Failure

Scale back Civic Centre library to safeguard local libraries first, say Liberal Democrats

Posted on January 14, 2011 | Leave a comment

Liberal Democrat Councillors have called on Brent Council to save money by scaling down the size of the proposed Civic Centre Library to help safeguard the 6 local community libraries under threat of closure from the Labour-run Council.

They are demanding that unless all the local community libraries can be protected the proposed new library in the Civic Centre should be scaled down. The Civic Centre Library is due to replace the current library in the Town Hall. In response to enquiries from Liberal Democrats the Council has had to confirm that the new Civic Centre Library (1168 square meters) will in fact be almost 3 times as large as the current Town Hall Library (429 square meters) and will cost around £3 million to build and fit out as part of the total Civic Centre cost.

As far back as 2004 plans were drawn up under the then Labour Administration  which recommended the closure of 4 libraries – Barham, Cricklewood, Kensal Rise and Tokyngton – situated in residential areas (see: 
http://tinyurl.com/2004Report
).

The plans to close the 4 Libraries failed to be implemented when Labour lost control of Brent Council in the May 2006 local elections when the Liberal Democrats became the largest party on the Council. The Liberal Democrat-led Administration under Councillor Paul Lorber scrapped the closure plans and embarked on safeguarding all 12 libraries through a policy of investment in complimentary activities to share costs and also help increase attendances at local Libraries.

With Labour regaining control of Brent Council in the May 2010 local elections libraries are under threat of closure again. According to Councillor Lorber, Cllr Ann John and the Labour Leadership simply dusted off their original library closure plans and added Preston and Neasden Libraries to the closure list – making it 6 out of 12 Libraries under threat of immediate closure – to save £1 million.

The Liberal Democrats have already exposed the fact that while 3 libraries around Willesden – Cricklewood, Kensal Rise and Neasden are proposed for closure the Labour Executive failed to mention that they were looking at plans to redevelop the Willesden Library site and that during the major rebuild the Willesden Library could be closed for up to 2 years – depriving almost a third of Brent of any library for a considerable amount of time.

Speaking about the need to safeguard local community libraries first, Cllr Paul Lorber said,
“There is a very big difference between the Liberal Democrats and Labour on the issue of local community libraries. Despite all the financial pressures the Liberal Democrats protected our libraries in recognition of the valuable part they play in serving local communities. Labour Councillors however have always wanted to close as many of them as possible. Labour’s consultation is a sham as it failed to mention their plans for Willesden Library closure or to justify the spending of £3 million on a new library in the Civic Centre while planning to close 6 local libraries. For many local people a library is an essential local service. It is clear that our libraries are not safe in Labour’s hands.”

You can read Councillor Lorber’s letter to Brent Council about the Civic Centre Library here: Cllr Lorber letter to Brent Council.

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Posted in Campaigns, Libraries

“Spotted Dog” redevelopment welcomed

Posted on January 14, 2011 | Leave a comment

Willesden Liberal Democrat councillors today welcomed the news that redevelopment of the site of the old ‘Spotted Dog’ pub in Willesden High Road had finally begun.

The redevelopment, which will see the historic front of the pub saved and incorporated into the new buildings, will see retail units and flats built on the site.

The scheme first received planning consent in 2008 for a new mixed use development, which will provide a 5-storey building accommodating 44 apartments, a retail unit and will retain and “celebrate” the 1762 “Spotted Dog” public house. The historic building will feature as a centre piece with contemporary new spaces inserted to create an exciting and dynamic composition that enlivens and animates its presence along the High Road. The rear of the site will accommodate a residential block of maisonettes at the ground and first floors with an additional three floors above of mixed tenure apartments.

Welcoming the news that the development had begun, Cllr Gavin Sneddon said,
“This is really great news for Willesden. The old pub building was starting to become an eyesore and I’m sure if it had been left much longer would be become dilapidated. It’s great that Willesden will get a nice new building, which retains some of the historic features, as well as much needed new homes.”

Fellow Liberal Democrat Councillor, Ann Hunter, added,
“This site has been crying out for some development and I’m really pleased it’s finally happening. Judging by the developers mock-ups I think the new buildings will look really good and will add to the diverse and lively nature of Willesden’s High Road.”

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Posted in Environment, Planning