Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: October 13, 2025

Purpose:

Content: 5.1      Rebuild & renovate Roe Green Playground, Kingsbury   Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) welcomed Anna & Julia Cenalia (representing local residents and families from the area surrounding Roe Green Park, Kingsbury) to the meeting who he advised were attending to present a petition seeking the rebuild and upgrade of facilities within Roe Green Playground and Park in Kingsbury.   In thanking the Leader of the Council for the opportunity to present the petition, Julia Cenalia (speaking on behalf of Anna Cenalia as the lead petitioner) highlighted the importance of Roe Green Playground and the surrounding park to local residents as a valued and much-loved local community facility.  Unfortunately, however, she advised that the playground and park was now regarded as being tired, worn and neglected with reference made to examples of broken and outdated equipment, damaged gates, cracked and uneven pathways, a lack of benches & bins and broken lighting.  These were identified as issues which those in support of the petition felt needed to be resolved in order to encourage renewed use and address concerns relating to safety, with some residents (it was pointed out) now preferring to travel outside of the area to find a cleaner, more usable playground.   Disappointment was also expressed that a playground and park which had previously provided so much joy and happiness to residents was now seen as uninviting, empty, and dirty despite the fact that Roe Green Park was still regarded as one of the largest and most beautiful green spaces in Kingsbury and an area that should be able to serve as the heart of the local community bringing children, families and older residents together.   In seeking a way forward, Julia Cenalia advised that the petition was therefore calling on the Council to support the rebuilding, renovation and modernisation of Roe Green Playground and the surrounding area in order to deliver a space that was safe and inclusive, well-lit and maintained, equipped with modern play equipment accessible paths for prams, wheelchairs and bikes adequate benches and bins and with a regular maintenance schedule to keep the area falling back into disrepair.  It was pointed out that petitioners saw this as an opportunity for the Council to work in partnership with residents to create a meaningful community space, highlighting that the community needed space not only for small children but also teenagers and young adults with the potential also identified for this to include youth club or leisure facilities that would provide a safe place for socialising, learning and growing and give a sense of purpose and belonging.   In recognising that these type of improvements would require planning and funding, the Council was urged to work in partnership with residents to explore grant opportunities, design options and community involvement so that Roe Green Park could become a space everyone was proud of, highlighting that when investment was made in public spaces this in turn created cleaner, safer and more connected neighbourhoods and gave a sense of ownership and care over the spaces that were shared.   In bringing her presentation to close, Julia Cenalia asked members to visualise Roe Green Park one year from now as an accessible, well-lit and maintained space where children were able to enjoy using safe and modern play equipment and hoped the Council would be able to support the delivery of that vision for Brent’s children, families and future generations.   In response, Councillor Krupa Sheth (as Cabinet Member for Public Realm and Enforcement) thanked Anna & Julia Cenalia along with the other residents present for attending Cabinet to ensure their views were represented and in order to present the petition.  As a starting point, Councillor Krupa Sheth felt it important to confirm that the Council had already recognised the need for improvements in Roe Green Park and as a result allocated funding towards refurbishment of the area.  In seeking to develop these proposals an initial site visit and meeting with local residents had recently been held, with the Village School and ward councillors also involved and the Council committed to working with local stakeholders in terms of the design and delivery of the improvements and refurbishment, based around an initial target date of 2026.  In recognising and welcoming the allocation of funding already identified by the Council to support the improvements being sought, Anna Cenalia (speaking as lead petitioner) also felt it important to highlight the scale of the park which it was felt would also benefit from the ability to explore all available options to attract additional funding in order to deliver the improvements residents were keen to support.   In summing up and bringing consideration of the item to a close, Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) also took the opportunity to thank Ann & Julia Cenalia for attending the meeting to present the petition.  In assuring the petitioners of the Council’s aim to ensure that all of the borough’s parks and open spaces remained open, inviting and safe for all, he also welcomed the acknowledgement of the financial challenges currently faced by the Council in seeking to meet these commitments.  In recognition of these pressures, he confirmed the Council remained open and willing to explore all available funding opportunities, including external grant funding, in order to support delivery of the improvements being sought working in partnership with local stakeholders.  Taken alongside the commitment outlined by the Councillor Krupa Sheth (as Cabinet Member for Public Realm and Enforcement) he ended by once again assuring the petitioners of the work being undertaken to support delivery of the improvements being sought which he hoped they would also be able to engage with as relevant stakeholders.   5.2      Addressing the mess and nuisance being caused by pigeons under the Network Rail Green Bridge, Kilburn Station   Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) advised that following consultation with the lead petitioner, presentation of the petition had been rescheduled for the next Cabinet meeting on 10 November 25.