Issue - meetings

This report seeks Cabinet approval for the redevelopment of the Gladstone Park Youth and Community Centre site to deliver a new Health and Wellbeing Integrated Hub. The Hub will provide modern health services, community amenities, and wellbeing spaces for some of Brent’s most disadvantaged communities, while supporting growth in nearby regeneration areas with approval being sought for the required SCIL funding allocation and delegated authority to enable disposal and lease arrangements for delivery of the scheme.

Prior to considering the report, Cabinet noted the representations and comments made by Dr Muhammed Najim (as a lead GP located within the Willesden Green surgery and NHS Brent’s Clinical Director for Health Inequalities) supported by Tom Shakespeare (Managing Director Brent Integrated Care Board) speaking in support of the proposals outlined within the report to develop a Health and Wellbeing Integrated Hub on the Gladstone Park Youth and Community Centre site, which would deliver modern primary health services alongside a range of community amenities and wellbeing spaces for some of Brent’s most deprived communities within a modern, sustainable building. In thanking the Council for their support, the opportunity was also taken to outline the engagement with local community groups in seeking to develop the scheme in partnership with the NHS and in line with the transition towards an Integrated Neighbourhood model with the Hub becoming a flagship centre for health and wellbeing and centre for green excellence.

Having welcomed the support expressed and process of engagement led by the Willesden Green GP surgery in developing the Integrated Hub proposals Cabinet RESOLVED to:

(1)       Approve the allocation of up to £2.97m Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (SCIL) funding to support the redevelopment of the Gladstone Park Youth and Community Centre site into the Willesden Green Health and Wellbeing Integrated Hub, as set out in section 3.14 (Option 1) of the report, subject to the conditions in (2) below.

(2)       Approve the release of SCIL funding in staged payments, aligned to delivery milestones and contingent upon:

·            Planning consent being granted;

·            Confirmation of the full external funding; and

·            Completion of the agreement to lease with Willesden Green Surgery.

(3)       Approve the granting a 150-year peppercorn lease to Willesden Green Surgery to enable delivery of the Hub, with the Council retaining the freehold and securing lease clauses to protect health and community uses in perpetuity.

(4)       Authorise the Director of Property and Assets to agree the detailed terms of the agreement to lease and long lease disposal and to enter into the necessary legal agreements to facilitate the disposal and development and to take all necessary steps to complete the transaction.

(5)       Note the intentions to relocate Kilburn Cosmos Rugby Football Club (KCRFC) from the Gladstone Park Youth & Community Centre to the Gladstone Park Pavilion to secure suitable alternative premises for KCRFC and full vacant possession of the site to enable on-site delivery.

(6)       Note that Willesden Green Health and Wellbeing Integrated Hub would be a temporary working name for the new facility. The permanent name would be determined following discussions with key stakeholders, to reflect the hub’s location within the Cricklewood and Mapesbury ward and to ensure the name was appropriate and inclusive.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 24 November 25

Prior to considering the report, Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) welcomed Dr Muhammed Najim (as a lead GP located within the Willesden Green surgery and NHS Brent’s Clinical Director for Health Inequalities) and Tom Shakespeare (Managing Director, Brent Integrated Care Board) to the meeting who he advised had requested to speak in support of the proposals  Cabinet were being asked to consider relating to development of the Willesden Green Health and Wellbeing Integrated Hub.

In addressing Cabinet, Dr Muhammed Najim began by advising members of the background to the proposed development of the Integrated Hub starting with the longstanding nature and role played by the Willesden Green Surgery as a family run GP practice in providing primary health care services for some of Brent’s most deprived communities. Highlighting the success of the surgery in terms of numbers of GP appointments being offered, high early cancer detection rates and innovative services available, including the provision of ultrasound guided surgery, which had resulting in them being shortlisted for GP Team of the year in the National General Practice Awards 2025, it was pointed out this had also created challenges with the registered patient list size having increased from 3,000 to 15,000 over the previous 7 years.  This had resulted in the practice currently serving the healthcare needs of approx. 5% of Brent’s resident population out of a converted makeshift 3-bedroom ground floor apartment operating in a space with the least square footage of all 400 GP practices in the NHS North West London area.

As such, he advised that all staff at the surgery were excited to have been involved in developing the proposals to deliver a new Health and Wellbeing Integrated Hub on the Gladstone Park Youth and Community Centre site, designed to deliver modern health services, community amenities and wellbeing spaces for the local community including relocation of the Willesden Green Surgery.  In expressing support for the proposals being presented to Cabinet, the opportunity was taken to highlight that the Integrated Hub would be the first of its kind in NHS North West London with the building based on a modern and sustainable design also making it one of the lowest carbon and energy efficient NHS buildings in London.

In providing further detail, Dr Najim highlighted that the new local Integrated Neighbourhood Team would have access to clinical and non-clinical space on site, serving the healthcare needs of all local residents (including not only those currently registered at the surgery) with the scheme providing new outdoor community space including an outdoor gym, padel court, and wellbeing studio space as well as a community café.  Recognising the need to encourage more active lifestyles, he highlighted the role the Hub would be able to play in empowering that type of activity and in creating a social space for everyone.  Outlining the engagement already undertaken with the Friends of Gladstone Park, Dr Najim advised of the ongoing focus (working with a range of community groups) to ensure the additional community  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8