Shooting near Kingsbury Tube Station

The incident on Monday evening  (20th Aug) in Kingsbury where 3 people were stabbed outside the Underground station is quite shocking. We have had growing concern about rising serious crime in the Kingsbury area which residents and business have been telling us about. Your Councillors have been raising this issue for the last few months with both Brent’s Community safety team and it’s partners the Met Police.  

We have had a briefing from Council officers and have requested additional resources both from the Council and the Police. In response the Police Commander for NW London Simon Rose has told us “A substantial additional level of Police officers from the Violent Crimes Unit have been drafted in to the Kingsbury area. Stop and Search powers have been granted to provide highly visible additional policing and generate intelligence. This violence on our streets is unacceptable and will be stopped. The persons responsible for this incident will be hunted down and arrested.”  

Brent is continuing to spend  £2.3M pounds on a new CCTV control room and new state of the art high definition cameras to help tackle crime and disorder. Brent Council has been helping the Police with information from CCTV following the incident. The Kingsbury High Road camera has not been updated yet and we will be asking that this is done immediately. 

Sadly the previous Mayor of London Boris Johnson and the Government have cut the Police budget and manpower is now the lowest for 20 years. The new Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has committed to spending an extra £138M but we need the Government to act and invest.

The Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward with information if you have any information can call Trident officers using 101 and quote CAD 7953 aug20 or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.

Fryent Councillors.

Help Brent Council Spend CIL in your Neighbourhood

Brent Council needs your help to decide priorities in spending CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy)

What is CIL, you ask?  When developers receive planning permission for some larger, new developments, they're required to make a payment to the council. This helps fund local infrastructure improvements. This payment is called Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). Of this, between 15-25% of the funds has to be allocated by the Council as Neighbourhood CIL.

You can find out much more by clicking on the link below:


To streamline the running of Neighbourhood CIL in the borough, Brent has been divided into five local areas: Harlesden, Kilburn, Kingsbury and Kenton, Wembley and Willesden. These are large enough to generate funds that can deliver relatively big projects if this is what the community decides the funds should be spent on. The areas are, however, also  small enough to encourage communities to feel they are likely to benefit from the projects that are delivered. Ultimately, the decision on what to spend the funds on still rests with the council, but we will provide clear feedback on how we have come to any decisions.


What sort of things can be funded? They will need to be a benefit to the community, the projects could be delivered by voluntary organisations. On the basis of feedback received from this consultation, the council will decide how to prioritise spending on particular Neighbourhood CIL funded projects. Projects could be delivered by the council if they relate to council assets, e.g. a park. The council could also deliver projects that are good ideas, but where no other body came forward to deliver them.

So have you any ideas - get those thinking caps on; the consultation is due to close soon and Kingsbury needs more money for community projects. Alternatively you can talk to use about ideas.

Fryent Councillors, Shama Tatler, Ruth Moher and George Crane

http://brent-consult.objective.co.uk/portal/regen__growth/pr/brent_neighbourhood_cil_priorities_2017-2020

The Future of The Institute - Kingsbury

Below is a Guest blog from the new Chair of The Institute, Fay Naylor.
The Institute is based at Masons House, Valley Drive, NW9 9NG
and has been a very valuable education resource in Fryent,

Fay writes:

"I am delighted to confirm that our lovely 107 year old Institute has been rescued from the attempts by the previous management to close it down. Staff will shortly be planning the range of courses to be offered in September which will include not only constantly popular subjects like sculpture and pottery but many new ones to tempt the vibrant community in our new location. The Institute, since it was founded by Dame Henrietta Barnett, has always provided opportunities for students of all ages and interest to join with others to develop their skills, have fun and make friends. We have been given a very warm welcome by the Brent community and the Council and hope to be in the borough for many years. Soon, we will be issuing information about out short summer courses, which is a great opportunity to test the water if you have never been before. The Institute has always had a reputation for quality and many people like several of our new trustees attend classes for decades. We do not get any funding from the state so rely on the enrolments of our students who have always supported us. We hope to see many of you in the months ahead including some Councilor’s if they can fit a class into their busy lives. Best wishes and I look forward to seeing you."

We are delighted to support The Institute and hope that many Fryent and Brent residents take an opportunity to visit and find out what they have to offer.

You can find out more by visiting:

www.hgsi.ac.uk or Tel 0208 829 4229

Fryent Cllrs.

 

Brent Connects - Kingsbury and Kenton Forum

The next meeting of the Kingsbury and Kenton Brent Connects will take place on Wednesday 3rd Febuary at 7pm. The venue will be Kingsbury High School, Princess Ave. NW9.

The main item for discussion is likely to be Brent Council future budget and wether the Council should increase Council Tax as Government Chancellor George Osborne is suggesting or make further cuts to services to residents.

These decisions affect you and your opinion is important, please try and come along and listen and take part in the debate.

Fryent Councillors

Engaging with Busines in Kingsbury

Engaging with Business in Kingsbury

Fryent Councillors, Ruth, Shama and George spent an interesting morning talking to Business Owners and Managers along Kingsbury Road from the Station to Valley Drive.

We would like to thank those individuals for sparing the time on what was a busy time for them.

Almost all the businesses we spoke to were in favour of establishing a Kingsbury Business Network and we were keen to listen to their current concerns. We plan to visit again and hopefully call on those shops which we missed  today.

The  http://imaginekingsbury.com/Events the current consultation on the future of Kingsbury is progressing well - you can visit web site from the link above.      

Fryent Councillors, 

Shama Tatler, Ruth Moher and George Crane

IMAGINE KINGSBURY

IMAGINE KINGSBURY




A Brent Council initiative inviting local people to develop a vision for Kingsbury Town Centre for the next 5 to 15 years.

It`s not about new buildings but how the area can be changed for the better by developing new design ideas for the public realm. How the streets and surrounding area can look in future, reducing traffic congestion, improving and encouraging the cycling experience, removing street clutter, parking pressure and lots more.

The Council has engaged 2 companies "Urban Movement" and "make:good" to help with the consultation, both companies have experience of this type of work. It will organise events between now and November to agree a vision, develop a scheme and help identify funding.

One of the early projects will be to form a Town Team which will bring together interest groups, residents, business, school and faith groups to champion and co create the vision.

You can find out more at:

imaginekingsbury.com and e mail them at kingsbury@make-good.com

Keep watching the blog or sign up for regular updates. Watch out for Pop Up event outside Kingsbury Library next week.

Fryent Councillors,

George, Shama  and Ruth.  

CAPITAL CLEAN UP

Capital Clean-up, a McDonalds sponsored scheme, is offering grants of up to £1500 to local community groups to support events to spruce up their neighbourhoods.

Groups can apply for clean up kits, hi-vis vests, rubbish pickers, gloves and a £50 DIY voucher by submitting their idea for a clean-up event on the Capital Clean-up website:
www.london.gov.uk/capitalclean-up.

The deadline for applications is 16th March 2015 at 5pm


Who is eligible? Community groups, Charities, Schools and Small businesses.

If you have a question you can e mail CapitalClean-up@London.gov.uk

Please let us know if you plan to apply and tell us about your scheme.

Cllr George Crane
Fryent Councillor
Cabinet Member for Environment and Neighbourhood Services

CAFE - Opening in Roe Green Park

More good news for Fryent residents and Roe Green park users. I have noticed from another local blogger in Wembley that the Council has leased "The Lodge" on Kingsbury Road, opposite Valley Drive and granted planning permission to convert into a local cafe.

The Lodge will be extended to provide toilets and an outside seating area for park users and cafe customers. As local Councillors we have been asking the Council to lease the empty buildings in the park to include local benefits or amenities for local residents.

Also of interest is a link below which provides a short history of "Kingsbury Manor", its Lodge and Coach House. This has been written by local Fryent resident Philip Green a respected local historian and member of Wembley History Society. http://brent.gov.uk/media/387493/Philip%20Grant,%20Kingsbury%20Manor%20history.pdf

The Lodge has been derelict for many years and was in danger of being demolished as the building was in such poor state of repair. Our new Councillor Shama Tatler said "I am delighted that the building has been saved from demolition and is going to be put to good use"


Councillor George Crane

ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE ON 7th MAY2015

The way you register to vote has changed, some people say the Government has made it harder.
The system where one individual in a household can register all members is changing to a system where people have to register individually.
There is a real fear on the impact this will have on getting young people, in particular, just registered to vote.

You should have received a registration form from Brent Council, have you returned it?

If you haven`t received a letter and want to vote next year go to www.gov.uk/registertovote or phone 0208 937 1372 ask for Electoral Registration.

Your vote counts - don't lose it.

Fryent Councillors