ACTION NOTES Tuesday, 27 October 2015 at 7pm Stonebridge (Hub) Community Centre 6 Hillside, NW10 8BN

Total attendance = 16

Welcome and introductions

The meeting was chaired by Cllr Bobby Thomas.

Councillors present: Aisha Eniola, Ernest Ezeajughi, Matt Kelcher and Sabina Khan Apologies: none

Announcements

Brent Sports and Parks service is currently consulting on a draft physical activity strategy. Residents can comment on this at: http://brent- consult.objective.co.uk/portal/ens/sppa/draft_physical_activity_strategy

Cllr Thomas reminded residents the winter flu jab is available every year on the NHS to protect adults (and some children) at risk of flu and its complications.

Update on ‘shaping the future of Brent Connects forums’ Peter Gadsdon from the council’s Strategic Commissioning team gave a presentation on the outcome of community feedback about the forums and proposals to develop new Community Action Groups.

Action point: Residents requested the Brent Connects tag be changed to make it more inclusive and welcoming to Kensal Green and Stonebridge residents. Response: When the area forum ward clusters were originally agreed, they were thought to be the optimum number (five), and the best mix of town/shopping centres, transport links and communities etc. As area forum ward clustering is listed in Article 10 of the constitution, any changes to the constitution will be required to go through Full Council to take effect.

Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation – an update Peter Farnham (Senior Strategic Planner) and Alexandra Snelling-Day (Senior Engagement Officer) from Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), updated attendees about the role of the OPDC, a new body launched by the Mayor in April 2015 to regenerate the Old Oak and Park Royal areas across the boroughs of Brent, Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham.

The OPDC will be the new planning authority for the area and is working on an emerging masterplan which will include the creation of a new Old Oak station (where rail line meets ), 25,000 new homes, 65,000 new jobs and the new school and parks over the next 30 years. The masterplan is being put to the for adoption on 4 November. Further themed consultations are being planned. Anyone wishing to stay informed can email [email protected] to receive the newsletter. 1

Action point: Residents noted a lot of land was in the ownership of and would like to know if its market value would exclude registered social landlords from bidding for prime locations to develop social housing. Response: In the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget and Spending Review, support was shown for bringing together publicly owned land in Old Oak into single control, including Network Rail land. OPDC is currently working with stakeholders and landowners to deliver this regeneration on this land. Registered Providers of social housing are independent bodies; whether they bid for any publically owned land that may be offered for sale will be subject to their own decision processes. As such, it is not appropriate for OPDC to comment on this.

In preparing for the development of the land, OPDC is working with stakeholders to understand how land values will shape development of the area in the future. In addition to the above, OPDC has commissioned a Strategic Housing Market Assessment to understand the need for different types of affordable and market housing within the OPDC area. OPDC will seek to meet this need to deliver mixed and sustainable communities through local planning policy.

Action point: What guarantees would be given to ensure housing was for local people and not sold to absentee landlords? Response: OPDC has commissioned a Strategic Housing Market Assessment to understand the need for different types of affordable and market housing within the OPDC area. OPDC will seek to meet this need in delivering housing to deliver mixed and sustainable communities in the context of evolving national policy and the impact of land values. This will be set out in the OPDC Local Plan. Specifically, OPDC is working the colleagues in the Authority to utilise the Mayoral Concordat to require developers to offer new homes to Londoners on a first or first equal basis.

Action point: What jobs will be available during the development and after and how will the OPDC work with key local authorities to ensure employment for local people? Response: OPDC is developing a Socio-economic Regeneration Strategy to ensure the delivery of employment, training and apprenticeship opportunities for local people are maximised during the construction and operational phases of development. A key element of this will be working with partners and stakeholders, including the boroughs, colleges, schools, and other employment and training providers to provide programmes that build on existing provision, and enable local people to access these new opportunities.

Action point: Noting the masterplan will not come into effect until 2017, residents are keen to avoid a planning policy void. They noted some works around transport issues needed to be developed during this period and asked if the OPDC will be consulting community groups on planning applications Response: The Mayor’s Old Oak and Park Royal Opportunity Area Planning Framework was adopted by the Mayor on 4 November 2015 and has been endorsed by the OPDC Board. This planning framework is material consideration for OPDC in determining planning applications. Alongside the London Plan, this provides up-to-date guidance for managing development within Old Oak and Park Royal. Current borough Local Plans will continue to be used but their weight will diminish as the OPDC Local is developed.

Children’s Centres in Brent Karen Zajdel from the council’s Early Years team gave an update on the outcome of the Children’s Centres tender process. Barnardo’s have been appointed to manage all but three of the Children’s Centres in Brent, safeguarding them from closure.

For information about local children’s centres and activities visit: https://www.brent.gov.uk/services- for-residents/children-and-family-support/childcare/activities-for-children/

Action point: What savings will the Council make by doing this?

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Response: The council is looking to save £750,000 over four years.

Soapboxes

You said We said

Charlie Fernandez from CVS Brent informed about Information noted. their new social inclusion in Brent initiative (SIBI) for tackling social isolation in the borough. The aim is to bring people at risk in touch with other through a range of social activities. CVS Brent is looking for volunteers to help support this. Residents can stay informed via the twitter feed: @sibi_brent

Dilwyn Chambers explained that Karen Rice, a Information noted. local resident, was keen to set up an Irish studies centre in Kilburn. He was also keen for the council to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising.

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John Cox raised a number of transport issues relating to and Park Royal:

1. Does Brent Council acknowledge overload of The OPDC is commissioning a number Harlesden roads by Old Oak and Park Royal of transport studies looking at the developments? Will it make some sort of impact of development on Harlesden ‘Harlesden bypass’ through Park Royal (to the North Circular Road) an aspiration of the and Park Royal. These studies, along borough with the assessment of planning applications, by the OPDC Planning Committee, inform the level and types of interventions required and will inform the emerging OPDC Local Plan.

2. Does Brent council expect cross rail trains The council feels there are significant to stop at ? That benefits in cross rail trains stopping at probably means eight trains per hour as an Wembley Central. This would not only aspiration – four trains an hour would improve transport connectivity in West probably not stop. London, but also support the delivery of Wembley and Alperton Growth Areas, which are of strategic importance not only to Brent but London as a whole. The council is therefore promoting the cross rail spur from Old Oak Common to be provided and for cross rail to stop at Wembley Central.

3. Will Brent council re-affirm its 2010 With regard to the Dudding Hill line unanimous aspiration (at full council) to re- being used for passenger services open the Dudding Hill line (via Harlesden further work is required to understand and to /) the effects on rail freight movement in for passenger trains? the area. This is one of the limited lines that freight can move along. TfL are undertaking a study on the capacity and availability of freight lines in London. The outcome will confirm whether passenger services can use the Dudding Hill line without a detrimental effect on rail freight movement. Notwithstanding this, investment will be required to electrify the track, upgrade the signalling along the Dudding Hill line to enable passenger services to use it safely. To ensure Brent residents get full benefit from any passenger utilisation Brent Council would require a minimum of two new stations to be constructed at Harlesden and Neasden. This is at

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considerable costs and no funding has been identified or confirmed to date.

4. Will Brent Council state its specific aspirations The council has always stated in to upgrade Willesden Junction station? Will it responding to OPDC consultations that support a new booking office on Harlesden upgrading Willesden Junction station High Street/Harrow Road with new ‘high level’ should be a key priority. Until Old Oak platforms? This would close the horrible steps station is developed Willesden and footpath that people have to use. Junction will be the main station serving the Old Oak area. Its upgrade will benefit residents in Harlesden and is also necessary to serve the new residents of Old Oak. The OPDC in conjunction with TfL is to commission a study on options for the redevelopment of Willesden Junction Station, which will consider how it can better connect to the surrounding area.

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