Brent London Borough Council

Brent London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Brent in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London. Brent is widely known as the most diverse borough in London and one of the most diverse boroughs in the UK as a whole.^[1] On Valentine’s Day in 2016, the Council launched its ‘Love Where You Live’ campaign, an initiative which encouraged local people to work alongside the Council and make Brent a better, happier place to live. Groups such as Kensal Green Streets, Harlesden Environmental Action Residents, Northwest TWO and Keep Wembley Tidy all took action as a result of the campaign.^[2] In June 2016, a short, community-based documentary called ‘Stories of Brent’ was produced, based on the campaign, starring Audley Harrison, Rachel Yankey and Liz Mitchell from Boney M.^[3]

History

A map showing the wards of Brent since 2002

It was envisaged through the London Government Act 1963 that Brent as a London local authority would share power with the Greater London Council. The split of powers and functions meant that the Greater London Council was responsible for "wide area" services such as fire, ambulance, flood prevention, and refuse disposal; with the local authorities responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an outer London borough council it has been an education authority since 1965. This arrangement lasted until 1986 when Brent London Borough Council gained responsibility for some services that had been provided by the Greater London Council, such as waste disposal. Since 2000 the Greater London Authority has taken some responsibility for highways and planning control from the council, but within the English local government system the council remains a "most purpose" authority in terms of the available range of powers and functions.

Powers and functions

The local authority derives its powers and functions from the London Government Act 1963 and subsequent legislation. Brent has the powers and functions of a London borough council. It is a billing authority collecting Council Tax and business rates, it processes local planning applications, it is responsible for housing, waste collection and environmental health. It is a local education authority, responsible for social services, libraries and waste disposal. The council shares responsibility with the Greater London Authority for strategic policies including housing, planning and the environment.

Regeneration

In 2001, Brent launched its twenty-year Regeneration Strategy. With an ambitious vision to raise the quality of life for Brent residents, the strategy firmly placed regeneration at the centre of the Council’s priorities. Since then, Wembley Stadium has become an iconic national landmark and is well established as a world class venue. Considerable investment has been made in neighbourhood renewal programmes in the borough’s most deprived neighbourhoods to improve social and economic conditions and work has now begun to transform the physical environment in South Kilburn.^[4]

Wembley is one of the largest regeneration projects in the country. According to the Mayor of London it can accommodate approximately 11,500 new homes and 10,000 new jobs through the development of sites along Wembley High Road and land around Wembley Stadium.^[5]

The Old Oak and Park Royal area is set to undergo a huge transformation. Under the Mayor of London’s proposals, it will see the development of 25,500 new homes and 65,000 new jobs over the next 20 – 30 years. Old Oak and Park Royal will become a major transport hub where High Speed 2 meets Crossrail, creating super-fast links in and out of the area. The 640 plus hectare development site, which spans the three boroughs of Brent, Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham, will be the largest regeneration site in London.^[6]

In July 2016, following 'passionate' campaigning by Kensal Rise Residents Association, Brent Council’s leader Councillor Mohammed Butt promised to prioritise “forgotten” Kensal Rise and address the damaged and patchy pavements outside businesses and down side streets, the fly tipping issues and the high levels of pollution from buses.^[7]

Finances

Brent London Borough Council is the billing authority for Council Tax, and collects a precepts on behalf of the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime, the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority the Greater London Authority and Transport for London.

Political control

Since 1964 political control of the council has been held by the following parties:^[8]

Composition

As of the 2014 election the council is composed of the following councillors:-^[9]

References

External links

• London Borough of Brent website