Agenda item

Kilburn Brent Connects Meeting

Minutes and Action Log

1

Soap Box – Chaired by Councillor E Gbajumo

Councillor Gbajumo introduced the Soap Box section of the meeting setting out the ground rules and time allocated for each speaker.

·        A resident connected with Charteris sports centre in Kilburn updated that the centre would be celebrating its 10^th anniversary in April. The centre offered activities such as an over fifties fitness class, open basketball sessions as well as opportunities to volunteers. Some of these activities had been made possible through Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) funding from Brent Council.

·        The Young Brent Foundation (YBF) spoke about the work they were doing in Kilburn to support youth projects, highlighting the YBF Creative Coordinators Project, which had a prize of £1000. Additionally, they were running drama and journalism projects in partnership with Talksport.

More details were available on the website: https://youngbrentfoundation.org.uk/ Email: Carole.Thompson@youngbrentfoundation.org.uk

·        A resident representing the South Kilburn Tenants Association said that despite the regeneration in the area, there was still room for improvement, particularly in relation to the project taking place around St Mary’s school.

·        A Brent Council Marketing Officer informed the meeting of support available for foster carers in Brent.  It was updated that the team were looking to support local people o become foster carers, through a range of support and training. Details shared: https://www.brent.gov.uk/children-young-people-and-families/fostering-and-adoption/fostering, Tel: 0800 001 4041

·        A Brent Council officer spoke about the services on offer for young people and families from Family Wellbeing Centres across the borough. Details shared via the chat: https://www.brent.gov.uk/children-young-people-and-families/support-for-parents-and-families/family-wellbeing-centres/granville-plus-family-wellbeing-centreEmail: Samira.Monteleone@brent.gov.uk

2

One Kilburn

The item was introduced by Sue Sheehan (Principal Participation Officer, Camden Council) who updated the meeting on a joint partnership with Brent Council called One Kilburn.  about a joint partnership with Brent Council called One Kilburn. The One Kilburn project was a partnership approach between Brent, Camden and the community designed to bring people, groups, and the community together to shape what they wanted the Kilburn area to look and feel like.

One of the key partners of the project was South Hampstead and Kilburn Community partnership who were working with One Kilburn to recruit part time ‘community activators. It was advised that further information could be found at https://onekilburn.commonplace.is/

Following the presentation, the audience were invited to ask questions and provide feedback, which is captured below:

·        A resident enquired if McDonalds on Kilburn High Road was contributing to the project, and an officer confirmed that they would get back to the resident on this query. 

·        Regarding how frequently Kilburn High Road was cleaned, a Neighbourhood Manager updated that the area was deep cleaned twice per day.

Action

·        Community Engagement to share slides to attendees and to be in contact with Officers around questions raised.

3

Neighbourhood Priorities

Veronica Christopher (Community Engagement and Social Infrastructure Manager) opened the item with an interactive Menti exercise discussing the shaping of the council’s neighbourhood priorities in Kilburn.

During the session, the audience voted on the priorities within Brent’s borough plan which resonated the most with them. The results are captured below:

·        Priority and Stability (received the most interaction)

·        A Cleaner, Greener Future

·        Thriving Communities

·        The Best Start in Life

·        Healthier Brent

In considering the priorities, most residents voted that ‘safe, secure and decent housing’ was most important to them, as well as a cleaner borough. Within the other sections, ‘a safer borough’ and ‘raised aspirations and attainment’ were highlighted as being important to residents. In regards to health, ‘localised services for local needs’ was raised as a key priority.

Following this, the audience were invited to ask questions and provide feedback, which is captured below:

·        A resident raised that the priorities were linked together, making it difficult to pinpoint a specific priority. 

·        In response to the term ‘enabling residents’ it was suggested that the council set out more clearly what they meant with engaging communities in the borough.

Action

·        Community Engagement to share feedback with the policy team

4

Love Brondesbury Villas

The audience received a presentation from Rebecca Ralphs (Love Brondesbury Villas) who spoke about the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) funded regeneration project of Brondesbury Villas in Pocket Park. Rebecca explained what the area had looked like before the project started, before showing what the area currently looked like after the regeneration project.

In closing it was updated that further details can be found on the website: https://kilburnforum.london/

Email: info@kilburnforum.london

5

Equality Strategy

The meeting received a presentation from Angela Chaudhry (Strategy Lead Equalities) who gave an overview of the council’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy. Details were given as to how Brent intended to support diverse communities in the borough, as well as ensuring that the council maintained an inclusive organisation and met their legal obligations in line with the Public Sector Equality Duty. 

Following the presentation, the audience were invited to share what Community Cohesion meant to them. The key themes arising from the discussion were around collaboration, communication and understanding.

The audience were then invited to provide feedback and ask questions, which are captured below:

·        An audience member suggested that Brent Council could be more inclusive by delivering more accessible services that met the needs of diverse communities within the borough. 

6

Community Well Being Project

TJ Agard (Service Manager, Brent Hubs) gave a presentation detailing a joint initiative from Brent Hubs and Sufra food bank. The project was taking place at Bridge Park Leisure Centre and was currently running on Mondays and Tuesdays. It was updated that the venue was providing a community shop and kitchen, where members could get a hot drink, snack, dinner as well as reduced goods. This was through a £3.50 a week membership and was aimed at providing assistance to residents who had been affected by the ongoing Cost of Living Crisis. 

Action

·        Community Engagement Team to share slides of presentation to participants

·        Following the presentation, Councillor Molloy invited representative from Brent Health matters to give an update of the work they are doing in the Kilburn area at a future meeting.