Agenda item

To hear any deputations requested by members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 32.

Members are asked to note that two deputations are due to be presented at the meeting, relating to the following issues:

(a)       Update on progress being achieved through One Kilburn alongside the strong working relationship with Brent and Camden Council (to be presented by Stephane Goldstein, Co-Chair of One Kilburn Co-ordinating Group)

(b)       Gambling Harm and support for work being led by Brent Council (to be presented by Matt Smith, Betknowmore UK)

(Agenda republished to include notice of deputations on 5 November 2025)

Returning to the order of business as listed on the agenda, the Mayor advised that he had accepted requests for the presentation of two deputations at the meeting, which had been received in accordance with Standing Order 32.

The deputations to be presented, were highlighted as follows, with the Mayor advising that unless otherwise indicated by members, he intended to allow up to five minutes for the presentation of each deputation before then providing the relevant Cabinet Member up to two minutes to respond on each matter.

1^st deputation - Update on progress being achieved through One Kilburn.

2^nd deputation – Impact of Gambling Harm and support for work being led by Brent Council.

(1)    1^st deputation: Update on progress being achieved through One Kilburn

As no objections were raised on the approach outlined, the Mayor then moved on to welcome Stephane Goldstein (as Co-Chair of One Kilburn Co-ordinating Group) to the meeting who members were advised would be presenting the first deputation.

Prior to the deputation being presented, the Mayor allowed Councillor Conneely (representing the local ward councillors in Kilburn) to speak (in support of the deputation) highlighting their support for the work being delivered through One Kilburn and its impact on the local community.

In thanking the Mayor for the opportunity to present the deputation, Stephane Goldstein began by taking the opportunity to inform members about the role of One Kilburn as a resident-led open and democratic organisation (launched in January 2023) which served as an umbrella and collaborative forum for individuals, community groups, businesses and public agencies across Kilburn with the aim of seeking to nurture (as an enabler rather than service provider) a sense of community, place and belonging in Kilburn by fostering dialogue, collaboration and joint working between local people and facilitating community-led initiatives.

Highlighting the importance of the work being undertaken, members were reminded that Kilburn as a major town centre, was split across the boundaries of Brent, Camden and Westminster.  Whilst this had previously hindered the ability for joint working, the increasing number of initiatives aimed at addressing the position were outlined, including the creation of a Town Centre Manager post with One Kilburn seeking to amplify these developments through a bottom-up, community-based, partnership approach including the three Councils as fully-fledged partners and the development of strong working relationships with local ward councillors and officers across all three boroughs.  As such, One Kilburn was highlighted as an innovative model for collaboration and effective cross-boundary cooperation directly benefitting local residents and businesses.

In terms of its wider strategic relevance, the work being undertaken through One Kilburn was felt to support a number of Brent’s strategic priorities including the move towards Radical Place Leadership and Integrated Neighbourhood Teams as well as complementing the Kilburn Neighbourhood Planning Forum and Camden’s ‘We Make Camden’ framework for community engagement” and also reflecting (as a new area) the neighbourhood governance elements within the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.  Stephane Goldstein then took the opportunity to outline a number of important achievements delivered through One Kilburn, which members were advised had included:

·            Driving and managing the One Kilburn Community Fund during 2023-24, with £50k from Camden Council.  This had included the submission of 23 proposals of which 11 had been shortlisted and five funded following a public vote in which over 1,200 people had taken part and with Camden expected to award an additional tranche of £30k shortly.

·            The recruitment of three temporary community activators in 2023 for community outreach work.

·            The support of tri-borough plans for the remodelling of Kilburn High Road through the Better, Safer Kilburn Scheme, working with Transport for London.

·            Facilitating a process of collaborative dialogue between the Metropolitan Police commands covering the High Road area.

·            Supporting initiatives such as Kilburn Music Mile and trailing community-run public toilets in Grange Park (on the Camden side of the High Road)

Members were advised that further details were also available via https://onekilburn.commonplace.is/

Looking forward, members were advised that Brent was being asked (as a result of the deputation) to:

·            Acknowledge the importance and relevance of One Kilburn as a significant local community initiative.

·            Continue supporting One Kilburn, including through sustained engagement at senior Council level and, where appropriate, through funding.

·            Recognise One Kilburn in Brent’s relevant strategies and policies; and

·            Develop and amplify effective cross-Borough collaboration as this continued to relate to Kilburn.

In once again thanking the Mayor for the opportunity to present the deputation, Stephane Goldstein ended by advising members of the additional information distributed at the meeting along with encouraging the need for ongoing volunteer support, diversified sources of funding and continued support across all Councils to develop the sustainable organisational structure required and continue the progress made to date.

The Mayor thanked Stephane Goldstein for presenting the deputation and then invited Councillor Benea, as Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Property to respond.

In response, Councillor Benea began by thanking Stephane Goldstein and all the volunteers at One Kilburn for their energy and leadership as well as the Kilburn ward councillors for their ongoing support in championing the area and commitment to the partnership.

Recognising Kilburn as being unique, given the split of the town centre across three different boroughs, it was felt One Kilburn had demonstrated how powerful genuine collaboration could be involving residents, traders, councillors as well as the local MP and community groups all coming together to deliver real results.  It was noted these had included unlocking a £12m project remodelling the High Road and reviving Kilburn’s proud musical heritage through the Kilburn Music Mile with One Kilburn felt to embody a spirit of community, creativity, connection and care whilst also serving as an example as a new, resident-led model of how councils and communities could work together across boundaries.  As such, the importance of the approach was also recognised as part of Brent’s wider place-based and neighbourhood leadership work. with the Council proud to be part of its story.

Councillor Benea continued, by assuring everyone of the Council’s ongoing commitment towards enabling Kilburn to thrive, including a vibrant night-time economy built around music, theatre and culture in a way that not just celebrated the progress made, but would also help to sustain it by continuing to engage at all levels, working with its partners in Camden and Westminster while also supporting volunteers and residents to grow the movement for the future.  As part of this approach, and in response to the deputation, the opportunity was also therefore taken to reaffirm Brent’s commitment to continue working with colleagues in Camden and Westminster to unlock the financial contribution needed for a second round of the One Kilburn Community Fund, and to recognise One Kilburn within the Council’s own strategies and policies as a model of community-led partnership.

In concluding, Councillor Benea once again thanked Stephane Goldstein and everyone at One Kilburn for the work being undertaken to strengthen community spirit, celebrate local culture and put Kilburn firmly back on the map.

Having thanked Councillor Benea for her response, the Mayor advised that concluded consideration of the first deputation and then moved on to invite Matt Smith (Betknowmore UK) to present the second deputation.

(1)       2^nd deputation: Impact of Gambling Harm

In thanking the Mayor for the opportunity to present the deputation, Matt Smith began by commending the Council for the work being undertaken to tackle gambling harm in Brent.  In sharing his lived experience, he advised members that he had been in recovery from gambling addiction for eleven years and was now working for the charity BetNoMore UK, as Director of External Affairs.

Outlining the importance of support being provided through BetNoMoreUK, he advised the charity had been in operation for over ten years having started in North London and offered three main support services: a peer support service, a program for women called New Beginnings, and a program called Goals for Gambling Outreach and Living Support.  The charity was also part of the National Gambling Support Network, with over 50 staff at least 25 of whom also had experience of gambling harm, either as an individual or an affected other in the form of a relative or friend of someone impacted by gambling addiction, all focussed on working to tackle gambling harm in communities across London.

Referring to his personal circumstances, Matt Smith advised that he had previously worked in radio and television and at FIFA, meaning he had spent time in Brent working at Wembley Stadium with a large part of his gambling having taken place in the borough, providing first-hand experience of the effect gambling had on those communities and individuals affected. His personal experience had included the loss of his job, family, relationships and friendships as well as financial security which had provided his subsequent focus, following his recovery, on ensuring individuals were not impacted in the same way as he had been by gambling harm.

Highlighting the shame, stigma and embarrassment caused by his gambling addiction, he was grateful for the support he had received during his recovery and way it had been possible to rebuild relationships with his family with the support being provided through BetNoMoreUK.  In noting the extent of support now available across the whole of the UK and also internationally, this was felt to be crucial in placing lived experience at the forefront of the work being delivered to raise awareness of the issue of gambling harm.

In recognising the well-established support available around alcohol and drug harm, Matt Smith, in concluding, also welcomed the focus being raised by Council’s such as Brent in relation to gambling harm as a means of ensuring those in need of support were also protected from the type of harm he had experienced and signposted to the appropriate support.

The Mayor thanked Matt Smith for providing such a personal account of his lived experience as part of the deputation, which he felt would resonate with many people, before then inviting Councillor Mili Patel, as Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources to respond.

In response, Councillor Mili Patel began by thanking Matt Smith for his powerful contribution and outlining the work local ward councillors including those in Harlesden and Kensal Green had been undertaking for several years on the issue of gambling harm in Brent supported by the significant and continued level of support from residents in seeking to tackle the moral and social injustice and harm being created as a result of the proliferation of gambling establishments across Harlesden and other parts of the borough.

Highlighting that there were more than 80 gambling premises in Brent, Members were advised this represented one of the highest rates in London, and the fifth highest number per capita in the country with, she pointed it out, it easier to find a place to gamble in some wards than shop at a major supermarket, visit a job centre, or see a GP and analysis from The Guardian showing that 33% of Adult Gaming Centres were located in the top 10% of poorest neighbourhoods, which was a position the Council was determined to address.

As part of this approach, members were reminded that the Council had written to the Government setting out a 6 Point Plan for Change on gambling reform, which had included support from over 40 other local authorities across the country. This breadth of support was felt to demonstrate the level of concern regarding the issue, which had also seen a number of councils passing motions and holding debates in support of ending the ‘Aim to Permit’, which made it effectively impossible for councils like Brent to currently refuse new licensing applications.  In recognising the progress made with the campaign the Council, working with the Social Market Foundation Think Tank, had recently published a new report entitled ‘High streets at stake’, containing six new recommendations for the Government to consider aimed at empowering local communities to prevent the spread of Adult Gaming Centres.  This had included a proposal seeking the immediate introduction of Cumulative Impact Assessments, which the Council was continuing to work with the Government in support of.

As such, it was felt the message from the Council was clear on the action being sought around fairness, instilling pride in local communities and doing everything possible to safeguard residents from harm.  In summing up, Councillor Mili Patel advised she was pleased to note this was a message that appeared to have been recognised by Government thanks to the support of organisations like BetKnowMoreUK with the Council, at the same time, also committed to the development and expansion of its local support offer, working in collaboration with Public Health and the NHS acknowledging the lived experience of local communities in Brent.

Having thanked Councillor Mili Patel for her response, the Mayor advised that concluded consideration of the deputations listed on the agenda and, in once again thanking all those who had participated for their contribution, then moved on to deal with the next item of the agenda.