Agenda item
Petition - Closure of BACES, Harlesden
A petition has been received in the following terms:
We the students of BACES oppose the closure of the Harlesden BACES Centre.
We feel that the move to Harlesden Library does not provide enough space to accommodate the Harlesden community students or activities which BACES provides at present. We feel the move will not have accommodation for crèches and a small canteen for students – both of which the current building has.
The government is encouraging people to study and develop their career prospects especially parents, young, mature students and families of all ages.
Harlesden BACES Centre is in the heart of the community and the centre has provided education courses for the diverse community within Harlesden as well as Brent as a whole. It has been and should continue to be great support to the people living in and out of Harlesden.
As you are aware Harlesden is short of community space. We the students of BACES, feel you should reconsider your closure of this site and the use the site to redevelop BACES for the Harlesden community development.
The petition has been signed by more than 50 residents on the electoral register.
Minutes:
Before the Executive for consideration were the terms of a petition from the students of BACES (Brent Adult Community Education Service) opposing the closure of the Harlesden BACES Centre on Craven Park Road and its relocation to the new Harlesden Library centre. Ms Palmer presented the petition on behalf of the students and outlined concerns which included the loss of on-site crèche and canteen facilities and a reduced curriculum. She felt that the move would result in a decrease in student attendance at a time when they should be supported in their efforts to improve life chances and set examples to their children. She referred to the relatively high levels of deprivation in the Harlesden area and the importance of adult education in helping students to alleviate social problems and become valuable members of society.
Mr Mikely, a student and resident of the borough for many years, supported the views expressed earlier in the meeting by Ms Palmer. Having attended the centre over a number of years, Mr Mikely had witnessed many students successfully obtaining certificates and moving into higher education and employment. Mr Mikely, as a member of HEART (Harlesden Environmental Action Residents Team) spoke of the work he and others had done in cooperation with partners to improve the local environment and he saw the BACES centre as a spring board for teaching and learning. Mr Mikely put that the current teaching accommodation was barely sufficient to meet needs and that in the new centre some classes may have to close. Mr Mikely also felt that increasing the number of people able to speak English reduced the need for interpreters, the savings from which could be reinvested for educational purposes. He also referred to the centre’s contribution in encouraging people away from crime and becoming economically active. He urged the Executive to make the move to the Harlesden Library premises a temporary one and in the meantime to improve the facilities at the Craven Park Road site.
Councillor Wharton (Lead Member, Children and Families) in response to the petitioners assured that the council valued the education provided at the BACES centre. He emphasised that the provision would not be ceasing but moving to newly refurbished and better equipped premises. It would also be next to the library and so able to over complementary services. He accepted that there would be not be a dedicated crèche on site however advised that there were currently spaces at the nearby Stonebridge Centre.
Other members assured that they took a keen interest in the Harlesden area and welcomed the new £2m library facility due to open shortly which demonstrated the council’s commitment to Harlesden. The Director of Children and Families contributed that the decision to relocate BACES to the new facility had been taken some time ago, and while there were no crèche or canteen facilities on site, capacity was being increased with larger sized rooms and enhanced IT provision. He added that use and provision would be monitored. The Executive welcomed the investment in the new Harlesden Library and hoped for a new service of which the council would be proud.