Monthly Archives: December 2011

Brent Council Wastes Thousands on Empty Building

Posted on December 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Brent Council’s Labour Leader, Councillor Ann John, and her Executive have been accused of neglect and incompetence for keeping parts of the historic Barham Park complex empty for more than a year.

The buildings in Harrow Road, Sudbury were donated by local benefactor Titus Barham in the 1930′s for the ‘enjoyment of the people of Wembley’. A large part of the building was used as offices by the council’s Parks department until September 2010. However the offices have been left empty and neglected since the Parks department moved to Brent House.

The council continues to pay business rates and maintain the empty premises at a substantial cost to Brent Council taxpayers whilst potentially missing out on thousands of pounds of rental income.

The vacant parks department offices at Barham Park in Sudbury

Large parts of the Barham Park complex are empty and neglected

Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Paul Lorber, who represents the Sudbury area, accused the Labour leadership of wasting money and ignoring the charitable intentions of Titus Barham.

At a time when money is tight Brent Council should not waste money by failing to use empty buildings such as those in Barham Park to generate income.

The Labour councillors would not do this if it was their money at stake. The way they misuse community assets and waste our money is a disgrace

said Councillor Lorber.

Councillor Lorber is in touch with local voluntary groups who have expressed an interest in renting some of the empty space at the Barham Park Complex but so far the council has refused to enter into discussions.

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Posted in Labour Failure

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Brent MP Sarah Teather: more two-year olds to get free early education

Posted on December 3, 2011 | Leave a comment

Reposted from: http://www.libdemvoice.org/sarah-teather-mp-writes-more-twoyear-olds-to-get-free-early-education-thanks-to-lib-dems-in-government-26032.html

In last year’s Comprehensive Spending Review Nick Clegg announced that the 20 per cent most disadvantaged families would be guaranteed 15 free hours of early education each week. The additional £650m announced in the Autumn Statement will extend that to 40  per cent of families. This will mean that the 260,000 most disadvantaged two year-olds will benefit by the end of this Parliament.

Sarah Teather MP reading a book with pupils

Brent Central MP Sarah Teather is implementing additional free childcare for disadvantaged children and high quality early years education

The facts are well known – children from the poorest backgrounds start primary school already behind in their development, in their speech and language ability, and in their capacity to make the most of their school years.

The evidence is well known too – high quality early years education, alongside support from parents and family, can really make a difference in giving a child from a disadvantaged background a good start in life.

The Liberal Democrat Manifesto for the 2010 Election set out an aspiration to move to 20 hours of free childcare for every child from the age of 18 months, as the nation’s finances allowed. We made a start last year, now we’re going further.

It’s not an easy time for anyone. But for the 260,000 children given a fair start in life because the Liberal Democrats are in government, we will have made a lasting difference.

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Posted in Education, Young People

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Lib Dem library campaigners welcome Parliamentary Inquiry into library closures

Posted on December 1, 2011 | Leave a comment

Brent’s Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Paul Lorber, has welcomed the news that the influential House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee is to hold an inquiry into library closure.

Brent Council, which has controversially closed half of its libraries, a bigger proportion than any other council, is likely to feature prominently in the Inquiry. When Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt gave evidence to the Select Committee last month he singled out Brent Council as taking a different approach to its library service compared with other councils. Unlike some other councils Brent has set its face against involving the community in running libraries.

Liberal Democrat councillors and campaigners protest outside the closed Barham Park library

Liberal Democrat councillors and campaigners are working to reverse Labour's library closures in Brent including Barham Park library

Councillor Paul Lorber, who has been closely involved in the campaign to save Barham Park, Cricklewood, Kensal Rise, Neasden, Preston, and Tokyington’s libraries said:

 I believe some members of the Select Committee are already taking an interest in Brent Council’s reckless and destructive approach to the local library service. Brent Liberal Democrats will certainly submit evidence setting out how the Labour administration is failing to deliver the library service that local residents deserve and how the council has obstructed efforts by local residents to get involved.

 The Liberal Democrats have an alternative vision for the library service in Brent which includes keeping libraries open, working with the community instead of against it, and sharing services with other councils to make savings.

Last month Councillor Lorber wrote to the Select Committee expressing concern about the Secretary of State’s evidence.

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee is inviting written submissions and requesting views on the following issues:

  • what constitutes a comprehensive and efficient library service for the 21st century;
  • the extent to which planned library closures are compatible with the requirements of the Libraries & Museums Act 1964 and the Charteris Report;
  • the impact library closures have on local communities;
  • the effectiveness of the Secretary of State’s powers of intervention under the Public Libraries & Museums Act 1964.

Members of the public can send their views by e-mail to cmsev@parliament.uk with ‘Library closures’ in the subject line before Thursday 12th January 2012. Further guidance is available at the select committee’s website.

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Posted in Campaigns, Libraries

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