Thanks to Westminster’s Labour-run council, all 112 homes in the newly opened 300 Harrow Road development are now truly affordable.

Under the original Tory plans, half of the project was going to be sold off as luxury private flats, denying local families the opportunity of a home in their borough.

It’s the first major development completed under Westminster City Council’s Fairer Westminster strategy, which sets out the local authority’s commitment to increase the number and quality of affordable housing available.

Last year the new Labour council changed the scheme to a mix of 77 council homes for social rent and 35 London Living Rent intermediate homes targeted at key workers. All one-bedroom homes, including the studios, are set at intermediate rent and the homes with two or three bedrooms are council homes for social rent, helping to meet the need for family-sized homes in Westminster.
https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/issues/2023/12/05/labour-council-opens-first-100-truly-affordable-housing-development-in-westminster/

Fairer Pay for Westminster’s Hardworking Homecare Workers

Westminster City Council has announced a pre-Christmas pay boost for homecare workers who look after some of the most vulnerable residents in the city. Starting in December, homecare workers with the Council’s five contracted agencies have seen their hourly rate of pay improve by £1.50 (before tax), over and above their annual pay increase and the London Living Wage.

The £1million investment aims to tackle inequalities in the care sector workforce, and support Westminster’s estimated 450 homecare workers during a period of higher prices and increased energy bills. The pay increase will also assist with the wider issue of retention and recruitment of homecare staff, which in turn should also improve service outcomes for residents. 44% of Westminster’s Home Care workers are local residents (a percentage we are keen to increase) so this step will help support local people during a cost-of-living crisis.
https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/issues/2023/12/07/fairer-pay-for-westminsters-hardworking-homecare-workers/

Labour Approves £3.3 Million Fund To Strengthen Westminster’s Voluntary Sector

Labour-run Westminster City Council’s Cabinet confirmed a big double boost for local voluntary and community organisations that includes a £3m core grant funding programme to support the sustainability of the sector. A further 150k will build community fundraising capacity.Core funding grants will be given to small and medium sized voluntary and community sector organisations to enable them to strengthen, stabilise and grow. The programme will build resilience and sustainability in the sector so that local organisations are in a better and stronger position to serve local communities in Westminster.

The funding demonstrates the Labour-run council’s ongoing commitment to working in partnership with the voluntary sector to provide a broad range of support for local communities and deliver a Fairer Westminster.
https://www.westminsterlabour.org.uk/issues/2023/11/09/labour-approve-3-3-million-fund-to-strengthen-westminsters-voluntary-sector/

NEWS, CASEWORK AND ACTION

Need help with a local issue? Simply reply to this email.

Over the last few months local Labour Councillors have arranged to have litter picked up, an abandoned scooter collected and pavement potholes inspected.

Westbourne Green

We got graffiti on the Thames Water building on Westbourne Green removed and reported a broken streetlight for repair. Work has been progressed to tackle a faulty light near Atherstone Court and address issues with movement of trees near the pathway.

Canal Bridges

We had graffiti removed from the Harrow Road Canal Bridge and from around the bridge between Formosa Street and St Mary Magdalene’s. Action is being taken to address a faulty light on the latter bridge.

Harrow Road

We’re glad to report that the resin in the tree pit next to the bus stop in front of Oldbury House on Harrow Road has been repaired. Over several years the resin has been broken up, making the pavement very uneven but it is much better now – after long pressure from Westbourne councillors. We also got graffiti removed from  Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Vincent De Paul and Wood House on Woodfield Road.

Westbourne Park Graffiti

We ensured that graffiti was removed from the back of the Quiet Night Inn Pub and from the hoardings to Westmead (though the latter remains a constant battle).

Flashing Lights in Westbourne Park

Residents in one street in the Westbourne Park are told us their sleep had been disturbed because a hallway light of a property opposite them, which on occasions was flashing on extremely brightly. The property turned out to be owned by Notting Hill Genesis; after we alerted senior management, they have repaired the fault and neighbours are sleeping much better.

Electric Vehicle Charging in Aldridge Road Villas and Leamington Road Villas

Why have electric vehicle charging points disappeared from these two streets? Residents asked and we have an explanation from the council.

“The charge points in Aldridge Road Villas and Leamington Road Villas form part of our lamp column charging stock for residents and these streets recently received attention from the lamp column upgrade programme.  This has led to the charge points being removed and all parties have been working on getting them back in place again.”

A programme has now been set for the re-installations of charge points involved with the column upgrades and we are now waiting to confirm the actual install dates (so cannot provide this at this time unfortunately).

Shrewsbury Road and Talbot Road

Following concerns from the Notting Hill East Neighbourhood Forum we are working with Cabinet Member, Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg, about tackling problems with the Big Black bins outside the park.

Brunel Youth Club

We’ve been delighted to welcome the reintroduction of sessions at the Brunel Youth Club this autumn, supported by the housing department. Expansion of the number of sessions is planned for the new year.