Brent Council spending Cuts

I read in local papers this week that Cllr Paul Lorber the Liberal opposition Leader on Brent Council is blaming the Labour Council for cuts in services. In fact his own party Leaders in nearly every Council in the Country are condemning the Government for unprecedented and savage cuts in Local Government spending.Interesting that Cllr Lorber is so out of step or out of touch with his colleagues!

Today in the Times even Tory Council leaders were quoted condemning Eric Pickles the Tory Minister for Local Government at  the severity of the cuts this year. The Government have decided to make cuts in Local Government much greater than any other type of Government spending. Presumably trying to blame the cuts on Local Councils when it affects jobs and services.

It's a shame that Cllr Lorber and Tory Leader Harshad Patel don't jointly lobby their coalition Government leaders to reduce the level of cuts to a much more realistic level this year.

Brent Budget Meeting 28th February

Next Monday 28th February Brent Council will set it's annual budget for the year 2011 and 2012. This will be a  particularly difficult meeting with the Council forced to make over 47 million pounds of savings next year. The Government have significantly reduced the funding grant avaialble to all local government, not just Brent.

The savings are front loaded so out of a total of 109 million over the next four years nearly a half of the total has to be found immediately.

Fryent SNT Partnership Day

Joined Sgt Matt Howard, PC Richard Stout and PCSO Anna Szymanska from the Fryent Safer Neighbourhood team outside Kingsbury Library this morning together with Brent Council Community Safety Team.

They had set up a stall to meet local residents who have had issues with Anti Social Behaviour in the area. They also spent time advising on crime prevention, and recording mobile numbers from school children for a database if they ever get stolen.

If Fryent residents have have problems with Anti Social Behaviour you can report it at this link:
brent.asbt@brent.gov.uk

George Crane

Kingsbury Kenton Forum

Well attended meeting on Wednesday evening at Kingsbury High school. Officers from the Finance Department  in Brent presented a report that is due to be considered by Brent Executive on Monday 15th February. Unfortunately Cllr Ann John the Leader of the Council was not able to present the report due to the impending Kenton Bye election. However she and Fryent Cllrs were available to talk to residents during the break.

Residents raised lots of questions, parking charges in Kingsbury, Library closures, cost of Children's services,
the new Civic Centre.

Residents were interested to hear that the new Civic Centre will pay for itself with savings and sale of buildings being vacated, effectively not costing the Council taxpayer anything.

If you were at the meeting and would like to comment please click on the comment button.

Thanks,

Cllr G Crane

Fryent Safer Neighbourhood Team

Meet your Fryent Safer Neighbourhood team outside Kingsbury Library on Weds 16th February at 12 noon.

Kingsbury Kenton Forum

The next meeting of the Kingsbury and Kenton Forum will be held on Weds 9th February at Kingsbury High School, Princess Ave NW9
The meeting will discuss a presentation on the proposed Brent Council budget for 2011 - 2012