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5.1     Traffic Calming Measures and
Traffic Restrictions on Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Green,
NW10

 
Cabinet NOTED the comments made
by Fiona
Mulaisho (as Chair of the Kensal
Rise Residents Association) in support of a petition
containing over 250 signatures highlighting a number of safety
concerns relating to the volume and speed of traffic along
Chamberlayne Road,
Kensal Green, NW10 and seeking additional traffic calming measures
designed to improve pedestrian safety and reduce overall volumes of
traffic.  Drawing attention to the
number of personal injury accidents recorded along the road between
2020 – 2023, Fiona Mulaisho advised that whilst welcoming the
measures introduced to enhance traffic flow and road signage in the
area in support of the Kensal Rise Corridor Scheme the petition was
calling on the Council to conduct a more detailed local traffic
review and implement additional traffic calming and safety measures
along Chamberlayne Road, particularly given
the proximity of two local schools in the area and in support of
proposalsformulated by local residents
designed to provide a practical solution to the concerns
identified.
 
Councillor Nerva
(Cabinet Member for Public Health and Adult Social
Care and Local Ward Councillor for Queens Park) also spoke in
support of the petition and action being sought by residents to
address the concerns identified.  As
part of the approach outlined, Councillor Nerva highlighted the
need to encourage enhanced police enforcement of the existing 20mph
zone in the area and also expressed support for the potential
establishment of a community roadwatch scheme by local residents in
the area working in partnership with the police, along with enhance
signage as additional speed management initiatives.  Whilst recognising that part of the area had
already been included within the wider Queens Park Neighbourhood
Traffic Study, Councillor Nerva advised he would also be keen to
encourage the involvement of Transport for London (TfL) in a wider
review of traffic and transport issues focussed on the southern
part of the borough as part of a package of wider measures designed
to address the concerns highlighted, including air
quality.
 
In response, Councillor Muhammed
Butt (responding as Leader of the Council on behalf of Councillor
Krupa Sheth - Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and
Climate Action), firstly thanked Fiona Mulaisho for
attending Cabinet and all those who had signed the petition for
taking the time to ensure their views were represented and assured
residents that the safety concerns raised had been acknowledged
with the Council committed, working within available resources, to
the enhancement and improvement of road safety across the
borough.  Given the reference to speed
management and enforcement issues he also advised the concerns
relating to Chamberlayne Road would be raised
with the local police Safer Neighbourhood Team for further review
and consideration.  Whilst recognising
the concerns highlighted and specific measures being sought by
local residents, including the installation of speed cameras,
Councillor Muhammed Butt felt it important to highlight the limited
funding available to the Council to prioritise these measures given
the significant reduction in funding TfL were now able to provide
under their annual Local Implementation Plan (LIP) programme along
with the role of TfL in prioritising and managing the installation
of speed cameras, which he advised had currently been
paused.  Notwithstanding this position,
Councillor Muhammed Butt advised that the Council would continue
working with TfL to highlight the concerns identified and encourage
consideration of the area as a priority once the programme resumed,
including roll out of an e-bus fleet. 
Alongside this, the Leader advised that the Council would continue
to investigate a number of improvements in the area including the
introduction of new road markings and
signage to improve visibility of pedestrian crossing points and
make drivers aware of the need to slow down and observe the 20mph
restrictions, with a further assessment of accident data in
considering options for funding as part of the 2025-26 programme of
traffic safety works also proposed.
 
5.2     Installation of Pelican Crossing
between Kenton Road, Kenton Lane & Woodcock
Hill

 

Cabinet NOTED the comments made by Gail Hovey
(Science College Project Manager at St
Gregory’s Catholic Science College, Kenton & Secretary
Kenton Area Traders’ Association) in
support of a petition containing 657 signatures highlighting a number of concerns relating to pedestrian and
road safety and supporting the installation of additional safety
measures, including a pedestrian crossing at the junction of
Woodcock Hill, Kenton Lane and Kenton Road.  In advising that the petition was supported by
Councillors Hirani & Maurice (as local ward councillors) and a
number of schools and members of the local community in the
surrounding area, Gail Hovey advised of her school’s active
involvement in the TfL Travel for Life scheme for which they were
due to achieve Gold Accreditation by the end of the academic
year.  Reference was also made to an
extract from a letter written by Year 11
pupils to the local MP detailing concerns relating to the safety
and confidence of pupils and pedestrians having to cross roads in
the immediate vicinity of the school and supporting the
installation of a pedestrian crossing at all four of the crossroads
at the Kenton Road, Kenton Lane and Woodcock Hill
junction.  Highlighting recent accident
data, members were advised that the petitioners did not feel the
current pedestrian crossing serving only one side of the junction
sufficiently served all pedestrians due to its placement and
confusing road markings. 

 

Referring to the outcome of a recent study conducted by the
Council’s Healthy Streets and Parking Team, which had
concluded that whilst it may be possible to install enhanced
pedestrian facilities in the area these would require additional
funding and further consultation with TfL and Harrow Council (given
the potential impact on the current road network and buses) Gail
Hovey advised the petitioners were seeking a more detailed local
study to understand the impact on all road users, including
pedestrians. 

 

Whilst welcoming the proposed installation of an additional
pedestrian crossing on Woodcock Hill the petitioners felt that this
would only address part of their concerns with members advised of
the significant number of pupils (24%) attending St Gregory’s
Catholic Science College who still travelled by car given concerns
about the safety of them using public transport, cycling or walking
to school and number of additional pupils (17%) who had advised
cycling would be their preferred mode of transport if it was felt
safer for them to do so.

 

In concluding, Gail Hovey advised the petitioners were seeking
further consideration of the ways in which pedestrian safety could
be improved in the area by implementing additional traffic calming
and reduction measures whilst also encouraging the use of more
active modes of travel including the introduction of cycle lanes on
the wide pavements along Kenton Road and installation of a
controlled pedestrian crossing facility to all sections of
the Woodcock Hill, Kenton Lane and Kenton
Road junction.  Confirmation was also
sought in relation to the allocation of funding within the Local
Implementation Programme (LIP) for pedestrian safety improvements
on Kenton Road and whether this was the funding allocated for the
pedestrian crossing on Woodcock Hill.
 
In response, Councillor Muhammed
Butt (responding as Leader of the Council on behalf of Councillor
Krupa Sheth - Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and
Climate Action) thanked Gail Hovey for attending Cabinet and all
those who had signed and were supporting the petition for
highlighting the concerns expressed in relation to safety of
pedestrians crossing the junction of Kenton Road with Woodcock Hill
and Kenton Lane.  Whilst recognising the
concerns highlighted and specific measures being sought by local
residents, Councillor Muhammed Butt felt it important to once again
highlight the limited funding available to the Council to
prioritise these type of measures, given the significant reduction
in funding TfL were now able to provide under their annual Local
Implementation Plan (LIP) programme and number of requests being
received.  The role of TfL in
the management and maintenance of traffic
signals across London was also outlined which, whilst focussed on
the impact and benefits in relation to accident reduction at
specific locations would also need to include consideration of the
impact on the surrounding road and traffic network and bus journey
times.
 
In response to
concerns raised relating to road safety and the absence of
controlled pedestrian crossing facilities for all sections of the
junction, the Council had secured funding as part of its 2023/24
LIP programme to commission a feasibility study into introducing
new pedestrian facilities at the junction which had included
pedestrian and traffic surveys as well as modelling to identify
potential impacts on network performance.  Whilst the study had identified that it may be
possible to introduce pedestrian facilities on the three arms of
the junction where they were currently absent this would be likely
to involve significant utility works on Kenton Lane that could
increase delays to traffic and buses on Kenton Road and lead to
traffic displacement on residential streets.  As a result, a further assessment had been
undertaken to investigate the option of providing a single
additional pedestrian facility at the junction over Woodcock Hill,
which had concluded it would be possible to install these
facilities.  Further detail would,
however, need to be provided following the meeting on the specific
use of the LIP funding identified for pedestrian safety improvements on Kenton Road referred to by
Gail Hovey during her presentation.
 
Whilst confirming that the
Council would continue to work with TfL in order to highlight the
funding priorities and needs across the borough, including the
possibility of securing the additional pedestrian
crossing facilities at the requested sections of the
Woodcock Hill, Kenton Lane and Kenton Road junction
it was pointed out that the
process could take between 12-18 months to complete, based on a
potential public consultation held towards the end of the year
meaning any subsequent improvements would be unlikely to be
programmed until Autumn 2025.  In the
meantime, however, he ended by highlighting that
the Council
would continue to explore the possibility of making further
improvements to the road markings and signage at the junction along
with the phasing of the existing traffic signals designed to
improve the visibility of the pedestrian crossing points and
provide advanced warning for motorists of pupils travelling to and
from school.  Support would also
continue to be provided for the school in developing their active
travel plan and enhancing active travel measures in the
area.

 

5.3     Objection to the Academisation
of Byron Court Primary School
 
As the final petition to be
presented at the meeting Cabinet NOTED
the comments made online by Matt Paul (representing the Support
Byron Court Campaign Group a coalition of parents and staff from
Byron Court Primary School)
in support of a petition with over 1300 signatures
seeking to oppose and stop the academisation of Byron Court Primary
School in response to the school having been inspected by Ofsted in
November 2023 and judged by them to be inadequate.  Highlighting a number of concerns relating to the
inspection process, he pointed out that the final judgement was not
felt to reflect the experiences of many parents or a majority of
staff at the school with no consideration also given to the context
in which the inspection had occurred given the major changes in
school leadership, disruption caused by the pandemic and
forthcoming changes to the Ofsted inspection process
itself.
 
Of greater concern to the
petitioners, however, was the automatic process of academisation
introduced by the Government for any local authority school rated
as inadequate, which had now commenced at Byron Court and to which
almost two-thirds of parents and the majority of staff
opposed.  In highlighting the lack of
any formal influence by parents and staff in relation to this
process concerns were also raised in relation to the Multi Academy
Trust (Harris Federation) selected by the Department for Education
(DfE) to take over the running of the school due to their limited
local presence and connection to Brent, approach towards pupil
behaviour management and industrial relations.  As a result, it was felt the approach adopted
would risk the loss of what was felt to be an inclusive and happy
learning environment and school community alongside the loss of
many staff and ultimately the current identity of the
school.
 
In highlighting that Ofsted had
affirmed their commitment , as part of their Big Listen public
consultation, to prioritise the interests of children and learners
in addition to considering the long-term impact of inspections, the
petition was therefore calling for a reinspection of Byron Court
School under any new inspection framework, recognising the new
leadership structure now established within the school and
improvements implemented since the previous inspection alongside
new Ofsted guidance (published shortly after the last
inspection).
 
To conclude, Matt Paul thanked
Councillor Grahl (as Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and
Schools) for her support of their campaign which he pointed out had
also been backed by the local MP with the petition calling on the
Education Secretary to provide the school with sufficient time to
make any further necessary improvements.  Whilst recognising the legal obligations on the
Council, the petition was also seeking support from the Council, as
part of their commitment towards promoting and protecting community
schools, to support the efforts being made to save Byron Court
School based on the following specific actions:
 

(1)           
To provide or support the recruitment of additional
members of school leadership staff, recognising the immediate lack
of capacity and significant pressures faced by existing
staff.
 

(2)           
To ensure that joint work via the Rapid Improvement
Group was both succeeding and also being monitored.
 

(3)           
To lobby the DfE and Ofsted to reinspect the school
to reflect recent improvements and delay the Academy Order being
implemented (which had also been supported by both Barry Gardiner
as local MP and the NEU General Secretary) for which there had been
previous precedents set involving a number of schools having their
Orders withdrawn.
 
In response, Councillor Grahl
(as Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools) thanked
everyone involved in support of the petition and recognised the
level of concerns highlighted in relation to the Ofsted inspection
and accompanying process.  As a local
authority, Councillor Grahl assured the petitioners of the
Council’s commitment to seeing all schools excel and the
provision of outstanding education for all children across the
borough recognising the level of concern and anxiety arising from
the outcome of the recent Ofsted inspection and rating of the
school as inadequate.  As a result, an
assurance was provided of the support being provided to staff and
parents at the school in order to clarify the process and deliver
the improvements identified.  The work
being undertaken to support these improvements was also highlighted
in terms of the Rapid Improvement Group which had been established
in September 2022 and had been providing structured support across
many areas including Early Years, Safeguarding, SEND, leadership
and pupil progress.  This had also been
supported by the recruitment of new governors and building of
additional leadership capacity that would be in place following the
Easter holiday period with the Council also continuing to meet
regularly with the school’s senior leadership team in order
to advise and monitor the implementation of improvement
measures.  Whilst the aim of these
measures had been to support the school in moving forward, the
outcome and timing of the Ofsted inspection had unfortunately
resulted in the automatic imposition of an Academy Order by the
Secretary of State for Education.
 
In pointing out this had not
been a local authority decision, members were reminded of the legal
obligation placed on the Council to take all reasonable measures to
facilitate and not seek to oppose or delay the academisation
process with there being little input over the timing for this or
any future inspection.  Nevertheless, in
acknowledging the injustice felt by many parents and staff,
Councillor Grahl advised that she had written to the London
Advisory Board, urging them to consider delaying academisation in
order to allow time for the school to embed improvements and be
re-examined with disappointment expressed at the lack of response
and decision of the Board to proceed despite the widespread
opposition to the academy order.
 
Furthermore, Councillor Grahl
expressed her concern at the way in which this process had
highlighted what she felt to be the undemocratic and counteractive
nature of current education policy and lack of trust in the current
way the Ofsted process operated both in terms of pressure on staff
and the use of singe word judgements to assess the running of
schools which was no longer felt to be fit for purpose.  As a result, she highlighted her support for the
abolition of these single word judgements and complete overhaul of
the inspection regime including the forced academisation of
schools, on which she would continue to lobby for a change in
legislation and approach.
 
Whilst recognising the role
played by academies in delivering education across Brent and
excellent relationship with those academies already operating in
the borough, Councillor Grahl advised the Council was also aware of
the legitimate concerns about how the process affecting Bryon Court
would affect the ethos, character and inclusive nature of the
school.  As a result, she advised
assurance would continue to be sought from the new academy trust on
how these concerns would be addressed with the Council continuing
to be a strong advocate for both inclusivity and good terms and
conditions for staff moving forward.
 
In concluding her response,
Councillor Grahl assured the petitioners and campaign group of the
Council’s full commitment, despite the current academisation
proposals, to support the work relating to the ongoing improvement
of Byron Court School recognising its unique character as a
community school in offering a safe, happy and fulfilling education
for its pupils.