Brent Council’sEnvironmentreport

www.brent.gov.uk/sustainability

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Our vision and values 3

Environmental policy 6

Environmental management 7

Climate change 8

Energy use 10

Transport 12

Pollution 14

Recycling and waste management 16

Natural environment, parks and open spaces 18

Environmental improvements 21

Planning, design and construction 22

Awareness raising, events and initiatives 24

Looking forward 27

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Our vision and values

Our vision

One of the council’s priorities in its CorporateStrategy (2006-2010) is to:

“make Brent an exemplar of environmentalpractice and performance on sustainable issues”.

In a similar vein, the vision in Brent’sCommunity Strategy (2006-10) is that Brentwill be a place that “…will thrive forgenerations to come.”

It is a vision of a sustainable, prosperous andlively borough, full of opportunity andwelcoming to all. There is a commitment toimprove the quality of life withoutcompromising the future. The Leader of theCouncil, Paul Lorber, has said he would like“Brent Council to be one of the greenest localauthorities in the UK”. To achieve this “we willput our own house in order and also enableBrent’s residents to play their part.”

Our values

A key value of the council is to improve thequality of life for all communities in Brent.A duty to ‘promote the social, economic andenvironmental well-being of all ourcommunities underpins our approach toeffective policy development and serviceplanning’.

The council will deliver efficient, accessibleand sustainable services to excellent standards.It will develop tailored solutions to meet theneeds of individuals, families and communities.Brent Council will celebrate the borough’sdiversity and build upon its national reputationfor nurturing successful community cohesion.

Environmental sustainability is one of the four major themes for BrentCouncil. As the Leader said in his speech to the council in November 2007:“Sustainability and the combating of climate change are critical to all ourfutures and in this Brent Council will play its part. We will make sustain-ability central to everything that we do”.

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Purpose of the report

The issues and responsibilities Brent Councilhas to deal with are increasingly far-rangingand demanding. Major issues are increasinglybeing dealt with at a local level. Otherpressures, such as population growth, are also faced in Brent, making the need for the council and borough residents andbusinesses to protect and care for theenvironment and natural resources we have,ever more pertinent.

Highlighted in this report are some of theactivities Brent Council has carried out, mainlybetween April 2005 and March 2009,demonstrating its commitment to promote thesustainability agenda and improve theenvironment. Some of the work undertakenduring 2009 has been included and futurechallenges as well as major opportunities thatsupport the organisation’s commitment tobuilding a better borough are also mentioned.A further report setting out the achievementsduring 2009/10 will be published during 2010.

Providing better, customer-focused, sustainableservices has been one of the major drivers forimprovement in recent years. In recognition ofits efforts, Brent Council has been awarded a3-star CPA rating (ranked from 0 to 4) every yearbetween 2005 and 2008, and was told byinspectors on the first three occasions that theorganisation was ‘improving well’ and mostrecently, in 2008, that it is ‘improving strongly’.Focusing specifically on the environment, therehas been a consistent advancement, from a level

2 in 2005, to a level 3 in 2006 and 2007, to a toprating of level 4 in 2008.

The council’s commitment to continuousimprovement is reflected in its achievements.In the last few years, use of public transporthas increased significantly, a trend also seenamongst Brent Council staff, with a three percent increase between 2006 and 2008. Theresidential recycling rate has doubled between2004/05 and 2008/09; whilst internal recyclingfor staff was at 46 per cent in 2008. Newdevelopments throughout the borough aremeeting higher standards for sustainability.More demolition material is being re-used andbuildings that use less energy are beingconstructed. Brent Council’s efforts are helpingto reduce the impact of Brent’s people on theenvironment and ensure it is left in a fit statefor generations to come.

The level of achievement and extent ofsuccess throughout the council is furtherhighlighted by the number of recent awardsand accolades that have been given to BrentCouncil, in recognition of the high standard ofservices that are being given. Thesedemonstrate how well the council is doing inproviding the very best for residents,developing schemes and initiatives that arelauded not just locally, but nationally, too.Since 2008, Brent’s environmental units havebeen awarded: the National Transport Awardfor Sustainable Transport; Most ImprovedTransport Borough in London; Smarter TravelAward for London; cited as a ‘high

performance provider’ by London CycleNetwork Plus; Streetcare was HighlyCommended at Future Friendly Awards 2009and Commended in the EnvironmentalInnovation category at the GovernmentBusiness Awards in March 2009; declared asone of the first six Zero Waste Places in thecountry in September 2008 by DEFRA(Department for Environment, Food and RuralAffairs); Silver-Gilt award in the city categoryat the London in Bloom competition 2008;winners of a silver award ‘Britain in Bloom’competition; silver for its ‘London in Bloom’entry; third prize for the best bedding displayin Greater London for the Gladstone ParkWalled Garden; third prize for the bestcommunity garden for Mapesbury Dell;Roundwood Park and Gladstone Park havebeen awarded Green Flag Award status everyyear of the scheme, in addition to which,Barham and Preston Parks were awarded theFlag in 2009; and Roundwood, Gladstone andBarham Parks were named in the 2008 ‘GoodParks Guide’. In November 2008, Brent Counciladopted a Council Travel Plan and a borough-wide Climate Change Strategy and ActionPlan, to respond to the changing world we livein. These are now being implemented. For thenew Brent civic centre due by 2013,sustainability is a key planning focus and thearchitects were commissioned to design abuilding for the future, an exemplar withinlocal government.

Environment and Culture, in conjunction withBACES and Registration and Nationality Service,has had an environmental management system(EMS) in place since September 2001. An additional EMS, implemented from anearlier date, exists for the Parks Service. TheEMSs are externally certified to ISO 14001.

ISO 14001 is an internationally recognisedstandard for EMS, providing the managementcontrols and tools which will ensure that thecorporate environmental policy is adhered toand that continual environmental improvementis achieved. There are strong links between theEMS and service plans as these contain eachservice unit's objectives and targets for the yearand therefore allow for monitoring ofperformance.

It is important that service areas include somemeasurable environmental targets and projectsin their service planning so that the council canmeet its corporate objectives.

Those that get their environmentalmanagement and improvement work certifiedto ISO14001 are taking that extra step to ensurethat their work meets the international bestpractice standard. Environment and Culture hassuccessfully received annual recertification toISO 14001 since 1999.

The ISO14001 standard at Brent is auditedevery six months, to ensure that environmentalmeasures are being fully implemented withinthe council. A designated ISO14001 co-ordinatorheads up the scheme, with assistance from foursupport officers from the Environmental Projectsand Policy team, and representatives to overseethe system in each unit.

An internal audit of a process within each unitis undertaken every 12 months. These areperformed by the unit representative andrelevant support officer. 17 individuals fromvarious units in Environment and Culture tookan intensive External Auditors ISO 14001 coursein March 2009, dramatically increasing the skillsbase for administering the EMS.

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Environmental management

Policies and codes we use tomanage the impact of our workon the environment:

Corporate Environmental Policy

Environmental Management Systems(ISO 14001)

Mayor’s Green Procurement Code

Sustainable Asset Management Strategy

SPG 19 – Sustainable Planning Guidance

Brent Council Travel Plan

Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change

Carbon Management Strategyand Implementation Plan

Energy Policy Statement

Biodiversity Action Plan

Certain Unitary Development Plan Policies

Air Quality Action Plan

Local Implementation Plan

ICE Demolition Protocol

Our partners include:Transport for London

Energy Solutions

North West London London EnergyPartnership

Groundwork

Carbon Trust

London Remade

Brent Friends of the Earth

Welsh Harp Conservation Group

Barnhill Conservation Group

Mapesbury Dell Area Conservation TrustFriends of Brent River Park

West London Alliance

Thames Water Authority

Environment Agency

Housing Corporations

West Trans

Brent Council is committed to sustainabledevelopment and improving the environmentalwellbeing of the borough in sustainable waysthrough the services that we provide and byreducing the adverse effects of our own actions.We do this at a council wide level by deliveringour Corporate Strategy, which commits us toimproving the quality of life, becoming anexemplar for environmentally sustainableactivity and making sustainability central toeverything through initiatives such as imple-menting the Climate Change Strategy, theCarbon Management Strategy and Imple-mentation Plan and the Energy Statement andStrategy. We recognise that we can enhance thequality of the environment through our services,through our use of resources, particularlynatural resources, and improve Brent in waysthat allows us to live today but also maintains ahigh quality of life for future generations. Byacting locally we will play our part in improvingthe global environment and we will ensure thatwe continually improve our environmentalperformance. We recognise that climate changeis critical to all our futures and will ensure thatBrent Council plays its part in reducing itsemissions of greenhouse gases, ensuring itsservices adapt effectively to changes in theclimate and plan effectively for dealing withsevere weather events.

To improve the environment we will:

• enforce and comply with all relevantlegislation and other obligations

• raise awareness of, and provide informationon, issues affecting the environment

• work with partners to promote the sustainabledevelopment agenda

• improve resource use and waste managementby encouraging waste minimisation, re-use,recycling, composting, and other recoverytechniques

• control development in the Borough inconsultation with stakeholders, to protect andimprove the quality of the environment andimprove access for all

• be an exemplar for green design includingnew schools and the new Civic Centre

• deliver a sustainable transport programme,work with Transport for London to improvepublic transport including bus services andbring forward new fast bus options to link ourareas of need with our areas of opportunity

• prevent, control, and reduce the release ofpollutants to the environment.

In particular the council will maintain andcontinually improve the environmentalwellbeing of Brent and address the environ-mental impact of how we deliver our services by:

• making environmental sustainability central toeverything we do

• becoming an exemplary organisation forsustainable activity

• integrating environmental considerations intoCouncil procurement

• improving resource use and waste manage-ment by encouraging waste minimisation,promoting reuse, and increasing recycling

• responding to Climate Change by cuttingemissions from our estate operations, includingcarbon dioxide, meeting specific targets,promoting energy efficiency, using renewableenergy, and by adapting our services

• motivating and training our staff, especiallythrough our Going Green campaign

• looking for renewable energy supply for all ourbuildings and developments in the borough

• implementing the council’s green travel plan

• enhancing the ecological value of land forwhich the Council is responsible

• integrating environmental and sustainabilityconsiderations into all decision makingconsidered to have significant environmentalimplications

• monitoring the environmental impact of ourservices and operations.

These commitments will be integrated into ourCorporate Standards and our environmentalperformance will be monitored through theperformance management arrangements and issubject to audit. We will also report to centralgovernment through the National Indicatorswhich are also subject to an external audit.

Environmental policy statement

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Climate change strategy

Nowhere will be able to elude the impacts ofclimate change; Brent, too, will be significantlyaffected. Consequently, the borough needs astrategy of how to cope with and respond tothe challenges and opportunities that climatechange brings. In response to this, a climatechange strategy has been written for thewhole borough.

The strategy will need the support and inputof everyone who lives, works, invests in andvisits Brent. As a consequence, it has beendesigned to be inclusive and to evolve overtime, as the various organisations andresidents in Brent provide their input and helpto deliver the objectives.

The strategy and action plan identify ways tomitigate the risk of climate change and adaptfor future climatic changes throughout theborough. It is trail-blazing in its approach ofachieving this through partnership. The strategyhas been split into five areas of focus, relatingto the relevant partners in Brent:

• Leadership • Public services

• Private sector • Residents

• Community groups.

What climate changecould mean for Brent

• An average 3.1°C temperature increase insummer by the 2050s (high emissionsscenario, UKCP09).

• More frequent and intense summerheatwaves.

• Increased risk of drought, leading to watershortages and subsidence.

• An average 2°C temperature increase in winter.

• Heavy winter rain storms over short periods,leading to flash flooding.

• Major flooding due to sea level rise.

• Storm damage, such as the tornado of 2006.

National indicators

The new Local Government PerformanceFramework sets out a number of nationalindicators (NIs), which will be used to assess theperformance of local authorities under theirLocal Area Agreement (LAA). The LondonBorough of Brent and its partners have selectedtwo climate change indicators to measureperformance over the coming years:

NI185: CO2 reduction from local authorityoperations

NI188: Planning to Adapt to Climate Change.

NI185 will require measures to manage andreduce CO2 emissions from the council’s buildings,transport, energy use and waste performance, aswell as those of its outsourced suppliers.

NI188 is a process-based indicator that willrequire the risks posed by physical climatechange to be assessed and prioritised. BrentClimate Change Strategy seeks to mitigatesome of the risks.

Climate changeSevere disruption will be brought about by climate change in the comingdecades; the council and those living and working in Brent must learn tocope with it and work to minimise its impacts as quickly as possible.

Strategy aims

There are three main aims for Brent:

• To cut emissions.

• To cope with extreme weather.

• To adapt to future climate change.

Left: Clearing up the aftermath of the tornado of 2006

Right:Photomontage of the possible consequences of climate change

Energy procurement

Around 80 per cent of the council’s electricity andgas is now procured through a frameworkagreement. This allows more efficient and cost-effective procurement and enables more effectivemanagement of energy use.

Energy efficiency in IT

The council has ensured reduced energy use fromits procurement and use of IT. This includes:

• more energy efficient PCs, servers, monitorsand power saving measures

• consolidating servers in data centres,application virtualisation

• efficient “free cooling” of data centres.

The first measures have led to a fall in averagepower consumption of the desktop PC from 947kWh per year to just 228kWh per year. For the3,200 PCs upgraded, the saving is 2,300,800 kWh,representing around 1220 tonnes of CO2 saved(based on current government estimates of 0.53 kgCO2 per kWh (DEFRA estimates for 2005 – 2010)).

All three IT initiatives combined are calculated togive a saving of 1,613 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Energy advice

Brent Council works in partnership with EnergySolutions North West London to promotesustainable use of energy in buildings, industry andtransport in the borough.

Energy Solutions

The council has been supporting Energy Solutionsto provide energy advice to households, schoolsand businesses in Brent. Their work focuses onincreasing energy awareness and improving theenergy efficiency of homes, schools and small andmedium-sized businesses (SMEs).

Energy Solutions is now located in the OldChapel, a council-owned building at Welsh Harp.This has been renovated to become North WestLondon’s first truly zero carbon building. Once fullyup and running, it will produce all of its energyrequirements on site and export energy to thenational grid during times of surplus.

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Energy efficiency in the borough

Brent Council is working with Brent HousingPartnership (BHP) to improve energy efficiency andinsulation in social housing.

The average SAP rating (a measurement of abuilding’s energy efficiency) for Brent Councilproperties has increased from 46.3 in 2000/01, to65 at the end of 2008/09. This meets the targetupper threshold of 65, set by the AuditCommission.

BHP is undertaking a programme of insulationincluding loft and cavity wall. It is estimated that637 tonnes of CO2 are saved per annum as aresult of these projects.

Energy efficient heating systems have beenprovided in tenants’ homes; for example,thermostatic radiator valves; changing from lessefficient fuels like electricity to gas; and theinstallation of A* rated condensing boilers whichare more energy efficient. 12,000 free low energylight bulbs were distributed to tenants duringannual gas safety checks.

Since 2002, BHP has replaced six communalheating systems with more energy efficientcondensing boilers. Individual A* Rated condensingboilers have also been installed to a largeproportion of the housing stock. This is calculatedto give an annual saving of 2,845 tonnes of CO2.

BHP is improving the energy efficiency ofapproximately 120 non traditional houses byinstalling external solid wall insulation, ecologicroof tiles, photovoltaic panels, and waterharvesting systems in 2009/2010.

Energy use in council buildings

Brent Council has adopted the hierarchy of energy principles that say ‘be lean, be clean, begreen’, and has developed an ‘Energy Strategy for Buildings’. Other documents are also being prepared.

Through the Local Authority CarbonManagement Programme, the council is working

with the Carbon Trust to reduce the level ofemissions from buildings managed and maintainedby the council.

Using the Carbon Trust’s support and expertise,the council has systematically analysed its carbonfootprint, developed a Carbon ManagementStrategy and Implementation Plan, and is seekingto take forward a range of measures to helpstrategically manage its carbon emissions. A jointfund of £420,000 was set up to fund the projects.

Solar panels

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Energy use

Key energy statistics

• Installation of solar panels on the TownHall with a 6,000 kWh/yr output.

• Solar thermal installation at KingsburyOlder Persons Resource Centre.

• £70,000 has been spent on installing low energy lighting in some schools and offices.

• Display Energy Certificates commissionedfor 20 non schools, and progressing for 60 schools.

• A building energy management system setup at Willesden Library.

• An estimated £261k annual saving from acombination of procurement of moreenergy efficient IT hardware and moreenergy efficient use of the hardware.

• The average SAP rating of the housingstock has increased from 66 in 2004/05 to69 in 2007/08.

• Energy efficiency encouraged throughenergy audits of offices, rewardingmembers of staff who have turned theircomputer monitors off at night, and withposters in council buildings.

Reducing energy use can cut CO2 emissions significantly. Brent Council iscommitted to reducing its contributions to climate change by improvingenergy management in its buildings and promoting energy efficiency andsustainable energy technologies in and around the borough.

The projects included the introduction of solarpanels on the Town Hall roof in 2008.

The solar (photovoltaic) panels contribute 6000kWh per annum towards the building's electricityneeds. On a sunny summer’s day, they can produceenough energy to power 100 computers or 600low-energy lights. In their first year, the panelsgenerated enough energy to power three familyhomes for a year, saving almost four tonnes ofcarbon, and £700 in energy costs.

During 2008/09, through concentrating on staffbehaviour, the council has reduced electricity use by4.6per cent (43,000 kWh less), saving £3,500 a year.This adds up to a reduction of 19 tonnes of CO2.

Several new projects have been selected forimplementation up to March 2010, which willdeliver the biggest CO2 savings in the most costeffective way. These include awareness raising andinstalling automatic lighting controls.

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Brent Council wants to create a boroughwhere people choose to walk, cycle and usepublic transport for more of their journeys,leading to healthier individuals, and a betterenvironment. It wants people to spend less oftheir time stuck in traffic, and would like tohelp people to reduce the distance they needto travel. Good transport is about achieving allof this and more.

Brent Transportation Service was awardedthe National Transport Award for SustainableTransport for making Wembley Stadium apublic transport destination. Brent Councilworked with regional and national partners todeliver £85 million of investment to upgradepublic transport services at Wembley’s threetrain and tube stations, ahead of the stadium’sopening in May 2007.

Following the biggest consultation of itskind with the local community, Brent Councilintroduced the unique Protective ParkingScheme for Wembley Stadium event days,campaigned for investment and worked onhigh-quality improvements to transportinfrastructure, which have resulted in farfewer people using their cars to visit WembleyStadium events.

A council travel plan is being implemented,which includes a number of measures toencourage staff and members to usesustainable forms of transport to work and atwork. Other initiatives include the use ofConnecta to enable staff to work from home(it is calculated that staff do not travel to workon an average of 1,205 working days permonth as a result of this initiative), and theCycle-to-Work scheme. Arrangements are also

currently being made for staff access to a carclub, to enable those who need privatetransport for work to have it available, yetenabling carbon emissions and financial coststo be kept to a minimum.

Results of actions the council is alreadyundertaking have been shown through stafftravel surveys, which reveal that, between2006 and 2008, there was an eight per centdecrease in the number of people commutingto work as drivers of a car; three per centincrease in public transport use; and a five percent increase in the number of people walkingto work.

Local Implementation Plan

Brent's Local Implementation Plan (LIP) setsout how the borough proposes to implementthe Mayor's Transport Strategy.

The plan sets out detailed policies andprogrammes to achieve sustainable andeffective management of Brent’s transportnetwork. The borough’s geographical andpolicy contexts and the wishes of localpoliticians and stakeholders have been takeninto account in the development of the LIP.

The plan represents a progressive approachto transport policy. Actions include measuresto reduce traffic congestion and vehicleemissions by promoting sustainable forms oftransport; improved public transport andfacilities for pedestrians and cyclists;implementing traffic calming measures; travelawareness campaigns; employer and schooltravel plans; and vehicle emissions testing.

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Transport Key achievements

• Awarded ‘Most Improved TransportBorough in London’ 2009.

• National Transport Award for ‘Contributionto Sustainable Transport’ 2008.

• ‘Smarter Travel Award’ 2008 for being theLondon borough with the most travel plans.

• The Transportation Service was a winner atthe ‘London Excellence Awards’, 2009.

• Achieved accreditation for ISO 9001(Quality Systems and Processes), OHSAS18001 (Occupational Health and SafetyManagement) and ISO 14001(Environmental Management), making itthe only borough in London to hold threeaccreditations for high standards in qualityand safety.

• Introduced 55 car club sites and 170 travelplans to make transport more sustainablewithin the borough.

• During both 2003/04 and 2005/06 there waszero growth in traffic volume in Brent,whereas neighbouring Camden experiencedone per cent and Barnet two per centincreases in traffic volume.

• Transport for London’s cycle arm, whichfunds improvements to cycling facilities inthe capital, rated the council as a ‘highperformance' provider.

• Secured an £85 million investment toupgrade Wembley's three tube and trainstations and provide significantimprovements to transport infrastructure.

• Helped improve train services to WembleyCentral by providing funding to Southernto increase services northwards to MiltonKeynes and southwards to East Croydon, tohourly, six days a week.

The borough is served by 29 LondonUnderground, London Overground andNational Rail stations. The Council is alsointerested in more underground stationsbeing developed (e.g. Cricklewood, which iswithin walking-distance of the borough).

There are currently 52 daytime bus routes,with another planned to connect Queensburyand Kingsbury to Brent Cross; five 24-hourroutes and eight night-only routes. One dayroute is a special service with just twojourneys on Thursdays only.

Key statistics

• 4300 fewer car parking spaces in the newWembley Stadium along with significantimprovements to public transportinfrastructure, which will be instrumental in discouraging access to stadium events by car.

• 32 per cent of Brent residents walked astheir main mode of transport in 2005-2008.

• 60 per cent of Brent residents usedsustainable forms of transport as their mainmode of getting around in 2005-2008 (57per cent London average).

• The percentage of residents cycling at leasttwo days per week increased by 31 per centfrom 2005/06 to 2007/08.

• 300 new cycle stands installed borough-wide.

• 25 per cent increase in use of the 20underground stations in Brent, between2004 and 2008.Wembley Park tube station

National Air Quality Strategy

Achieving the targets set out in the National AirQuality Strategy is challenging. The council has metthe targets set for five of the eight prioritypollutants listed in the strategy (1-3, butadiene,benzene, carbon monoxide, lead, sulphur dioxide)and one of the remaining three, ozone, is outsidelocal control. Current targets set for nitrogendioxide and particulates have not been met in someareas in the borough and it is unlikely they will bemet in the future unless targeted action is taken.

Since the largest source of air pollution in theborough is from traffic (and one of the busiestsections of the North Circular Road (A406) dividesthe borough), many of the actions in BrentCouncil’s Air Quality Action Plan centre on the needto reduce or control emissions from this source.Some of the measures that can be taken locally areinstalling infrastructure to support alternative fuelsand providing additional cycle access and securecycle facilities to encourage people to use lesspolluting modes of transport.

Air pollution cannot be confined to one boroughso it is a problem for everyone. Some of the actionthe council takes must therefore be effective over amuch wider area and a joined up approach totackling air quality is required. To achieve this, BrentCouncil works in partnership with others such asthe Mayor of London and other local authorities,particularly trying to educate people about airpollution and the action they can take to reduce it.

Air Quality Management Areas

Brent Council has declared Air Quality ManagementAreas (AQMA's) in areas where national air qualityobjectives would be exceeded for nitrogen dioxideand particulate matter. These were reviewed in 2006and additional AQMAs were declared, incorporatingthe Wembley regeneration area and Ealing Road,adding to those that already existed on the south ofthe North Circular Road and all housing, schools andhospitals along the North Circular Road and keythoroughfares.

The council regularly monitors air quality andcurrently operates five continuous monitoringstations, including one in Kilburn, installed in 2008.Brent Council also undertakes non-continuousmonitoring and deploys over 60 diffusion tubesmonitoring nitrogen dioxide throughout theborough.

What are Brent Council’s plans toimprove air quality?

• Implementing air quality and traffic calmingmitigation measures.

• Installing bio-diesel and electric chargingpoints for vehicles to help stimulate themarket for alternatively fuelled vehicles.

• Procuring cleaner fuelled vehicles for council work.

• Assessing and forecasting the level of vehicleemissions and its impact on air quality inHarlesden Town Centre, Wembley TownCentre and the North Circular Road.

• Providing additional cycle access and securecycle parking facilities.

What else has the council beendoing to improve air quality?

Brent Council is a member of the AirtextConsortium. This is a group of local authoritiesproviding free texts to alert users on high ormoderate pollution days. Those with respiratorydisorders like asthma, have found the service mostuseful in managing their condition. The pilot ranuntil the end of 2009.

The council is involved in sub-regional work withWest London Boroughs. The group focuses onstrategic issues for the wider benefit of westLondon. For example, Walkit.com, a website toenable users to plan walking routes based ondistance or avoid heavily polluted routes, has beenjointly set up. A best practice guide for reducingemissions from taxis has also been published.www.westlondonairquality.org.uk

Water quality

The number of water pollution incidents occurringin Brent has decreased, from 96 in 2003 to 45 in2007. No category one (major impact) incidentshave been recorded over this period. The numberof category two incidents has remained low inrecent years.

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Contaminated Land Strategy

Since the adoption of the council’s ContaminatedLand Inspection Strategy in 2001, a total of 1700sites have been identified as being potentiallycontaminated, covering an area of 11,020,837sq.m. or 25 per cent of the borough. Of these sites,73 are high priority, 649 are medium priority and878 are low priority for inspection, based on historicand current uses of the land.

By March 2009 Brent had undertaken 29 intrusivesoil investigations and instigated 178 investigationsthrough the planning process. In 51 of theinvestigations the soil was found to be suitable forthe sensitive end uses of residential or allotments,thus removing the sites from the list of potentialcontaminated land, and reducing the need forremediation.

By March 2009, 801.6 sq.km. of land was nolonger deemed to be potentially contaminated, as aresult of investigations or remediation in connectionwith planning conditions and projects initiated bythe council. This includes 49 sites being remediatedto the highest standard, making them suitable forresidential use. As much soil remediation as ispossible is done on site, to reduce distances travelledby lorries and the need for importing clean soil. The total amount of potential contaminated landwas reduced to 10,219 sq.km. in 2008/09.

Air quality

Road traffic emissions are the main source of airpollution in Brent. Since road congestion also has anegative impact on the air quality of the borough’sneighbourhoods the council has declared asignificant proportion of the borough as an AirQuality Management Area.

The council is seeking to reduce the impact ofpoor air quality in the borough, particularly in thepoorest communities, through its LocalImplementation Plan (LIP), Air Quality Action Plan(AQAP), planning policies, awareness raisingactivities and by working with neighbouringboroughs and transportation authorities.

Local Implementation Plan

(See page 12)Air quality is a cross-boundary phenomenon and so adherence to and the creation of more stringentLondon wide policies are required to makesignificant changes.

Air Quality Action Plan

Brent Council produced an Air Quality Action Planfor 2005-10, which outlines the current and futuremeasures to reduce air pollution (as nitrogendioxide and particulate matter) in the borough. Theaction plan outlines 98 actions which aim topromote cleaner modes of transport, reduce traffic,promote the use of cleaner fuels and limit theimpact of polluting local industries.

The work the council will do to meet NationalIndicator 194 will fulfil some of the objectives inthe Air Quality Action Plan, as this also aims toreduce pollution. Any action the council takes willserve to reduce carbon dioxide too.

Secured continued reduction in particulate matterhas been targeted for improvement at NeasdenGoods Yard, an area associated with dust nuisanceand other problems for a number of years. Thenumber of times where the daily mean hasexceeded 50ug/m3 has subsequently decreasedannually, from 198 exceedances in 2006, to 130 in 2008.

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Pollution

Potential contaminated landsites in the borough 2008/09

There are now significant financial incentives forlocal authorities to reduce the amount of wastethey send to landfill. Landfill tax has increasedto £40/tonne (2009-10) and continues to go upby £8 every year; whilst the Landfill Directivestipulates that the amount of biodegradablemunicipal waste landfilled in 2010 must be just75 per cent of that of 1995 (with further targetsof 50 per cent reduction by 2013 and a 65 percent reduction from 1995 levels by 2020) – andauthorities that fail to meet these reductions arelikely to be liable to their share of fines incurredon the nation from the EU (amounting tomillions of pounds).

It is therefore vital that Brent Council meetsgovernment targets to reduce the amount ofwaste sent to landfill. This will be achieved byencouraging residents to reduce, reuse andrecycle more of their waste.

The council promotes recycling and wastereduction in local schools and communities.Most households now have a door-step recyclingcollection and the council is seeking ways toprovide the remaining flatted properties with asuitable service.

Compulsory recycling in Brent

After almost 80 per cent approval in a publicconsultation during autumn 2007, recyclingbecame compulsory for Brent residents on thegreen box recycling collection scheme from 4August 2008. This has been a huge success.

Composting

The annual amount of waste collected forcomposting increased by 3575 tonnes betweenMarch 2008 and March 2009.

Brent Reuse and Recycling Centre

Brent’s Reuse and Recycling Centre opened inPark Royal in 2005. It had the highest averagerecycling rate in London in 2006/07, with arate of 78 per cent.

Then Environment Minister, Ben Bradshaw,praised Brent’s huge recycling improvementwhen he was given a tour around the newrecycling facility in Spring 2006.

Recycling and reuse rates remain high, withjust 30 per cent of waste taken to the Centrebeing sent to landfill between April 2008 andMarch 2009.

Wembley redevelopment

The new Wembley Stadium was the firstflagship regeneration project in the UK toimplement the demolition protocol. Many ofthe material components from demolitionwere recycled and reused on site, some weresold as scrap or sent for re-use elsewhere.

Envac

Wembley became the first site in Britain to use the ‘Envac’ waste system, when it becameoperational in December 2008. This is a vacuumwaste system that transports waste to a centraldepot through underground pipes at speeds of up to 70 km per hour. It reduces the needfor storage of rubbish at multiple locations,and for the collection and transportation ofwaste. This minimises the carbon dioxideemissions associated with waste management,creating a cleaner, safer environment.Furthermore, this innovative undergroundwaste collection system encourages recyclingby sorting at source.

Recycling in council buildings

In 2005/06 a pilot recycling scheme wasintroduced in six of our main offices. Thisenabled over 176 tonnes of paper, plastics andmetal cans to be diverted from landfill. Sincethen, recycling has been rolled out to 95 percent of suitable office locations across theborough.

‘Zero Waste Places’ have also been set up intrial areas of each of the council’s three mainoffice buildings: the Town Hall, Brent House,and Mahatma Gandhi House. The aim of theseis that at least 70 per cent of waste by weightshould be reclaimed, recycled or composted andideally no more than two per cent should besent to landfill. This aim is approached bycreating designated waste stations which havea refuse bin and recycling bins, rather thanthere being a refuse bin at each individual desk.Following successful implementation of thisscheme, it will now be rolled out to all of BrentHouse, with other offices to follow.

Waste minimisation is also encouraged,through printing double sided and two pagesper side, avoiding printing where possible; andthrough holding events such as a ‘Give or Take’event that was held on 6 February 2009.

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Recycling and waste management Key statistics

• Brent’s household recycling rate increasedto 28.2 per cent in 2008/09, comparedwith a rate of 20 per cent in 2005/06 and14 per cent in 2004/05.

• The total amount of waste either recycledor composted in 2008/09 was 5460 tonnesmore than the previous year.

• In 2008/9 95 per cent of Brent residentswere serviced by a kerbside collectioncompared with 81 per cent in 2004/05 and 75 per cent in 2003/04.

• Brent’s recycling centre achieved thehighest reuse and recycling rate (78 percent) across London in 2006/07 (Londonaverage was 40 per cent).

• First Local Authority to adopt thedemolition protocol.

• 100 per cent of Brent schools haverecycling facilities.

Results

In 2008/9, 9,581 fewer tonnes of waste were landfilled compared to the yearbefore. This is the equivalent of 1,197double decker buses and enabled theborough to avoid a further landfill tax cost of £306,592.

Fryent Country Park pond restoration

From 1983 the council has worked inpartnership with the Barnhill ConservationGroup to reverse the decline of the CommonFrog in Fryent Country Park. The restorationprogramme has led to the creation of afurther 19 ponds and water bodies.

The effect of this work and the BiodiversityAction Plan is evident: in spring 2009, a record2,096 clumps of frogspawn were recorded inponds at Fryent Country Park. This was thehighest since the pond restoration programmeand monitoring commenced 26 years ago.Before the pond restoration programmecommenced, the total number of clumps offrogspawn on the country park was about 40clumps (as recorded in early 1983).

Fryent Country Park has retained its ISO9001and ISO14001 standard and the Soil AssociationOrganic Standard.

Mapesbury Dell

The Mapesbury Dell Area Conservation Trusthas been working in partnership with BrentParks Service to turn Mapesbury Dell into avibrant community asset. The dell wasofficially re-opened in autumn of 2005. Itsrestoration to full use not only provides afocus for forging stronger links betweenresidents, but also helps reduce the crime withwhich it had become associated. MapesburyDell was awarded the Green Flag award in2009. In addition, the trust attained £10,000under the Playbuilder Community scheme toimprove their existing play space. This schemewill have a strong emphasis on accessible andnatural play.

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Investing in our natural spaces

In recent years, Brent Council has made asignificant investment in parks, open spacesand play areas, attracting 16 million visitorsand improving satisfaction amongst residentswho use local parks.

The Brent River Park Project

The Brent River Park Project is a partnershipproject between Brent Council and theEnvironment Agency. The project has seen the restoration of 2km of the River Brent, aswell as bringing about enhanced recreational,social and economic opportunities for theborough. Phase 1 of the scheme wascompleted in 2004, but further phases havebeen put on hold until additional funding is found.

Brent Council also work with Friends ofBrent River Park to maintain the quality of theenvironment and promote the river park as avaluable and enjoyable community green space.

Timber production

A trial coppicing of woodland for timber wasbegun in Fryent Country Park in 2008.Approximately 0.1 ha is coppiced, mainly Ash,producing about 5 tonnes of wood. Not onlydoes this provide revenue, but the cuttingback leads to a more diverse woodland.

A wooden seat was made, two habitat areasfor potential use by Stag Beetles were created,and a local domestic household with a wood-burning system used the wood to generateheat and hot water.

Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP)

In 2007 the Brent BAP was reviewed and newimplementation priorities identified. Thereview showed progress was made in increasesto hay meadow, woodland, hedgerow andpond habitats at Fryent Country Park andimproved marshland conservation at BrentReservoir. Changes to wildlife speciespopulations were both positive and negative.Gains to biodiversity in the borough includethe arrival of an endangered species of bat –the Leisler bat, which was spotted at BrentReservoir for the first time in a decade.

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Natural environment, parks and open spacesBrent is a highly developed urban area with a considerable deficiency inpublic open space. The council’s challenge is to ensure that everyone inBrent has access to the borough’s public spaces, where they can enjoysafe, clean areas which are rich in wildlife and offer a variety of activities.

Key facts

• Brent adopted a Biodiversity ActionPlan in 2001 as part of a nationwideprogramme to improve the managementof local habitats.

• Phase 1 of River Brent Restoration Projecthas been completed.

• The length of hedgerow at Fryent CountryPark increased by 16 per cent between1993 and 2003 (compared with an averageof 1.5 per cent decline in length of hedgein the eastern lowlands of England andWales between 1990 and 1998).

• In the same period, there was a net gainof 12 mature trees in the park, from 273to 285.

• In spring 2009, a record 2,096 clumps offrogspawn were recorded in ponds atFryent Country Park.

• Multi Use Games Areas (MUGAs) havebeen developed at Vale Farm, Hazel Roadand Grove Park.

Brent River Park

Alley gating schemes

Brent Council’s StreetCare team works withlocal residents to clean up private alleyways,to keep out flytippers and discourage crime.The team encourages residents and businessesto pledge a commitment to keeping theirareas in tip-top condition in the form of acommunity pledge.

Flytipping

Flytipping in Brent has fallen from a high ofalmost 20,000 reported flytips in 2006/07 toaround 8,000 reported flytips in 2008/09.

Grafitti

In late 2007 the Brent Graffiti PartnershipBoard was formed, comprising the followingagencies: Brent Council (StreetCare (graffitiremoval), Anti Social Behaviour Team, TradingStandards, Cultural Development, BrentHousing Crime Reduction Team,Neighbourhood Working Youth Services);Brent Housing Partnership; MetropolitanPolice; British Transport Police; Transport forLondon.

Since inception, the Board has coordinatedintelligence and activities resulting in 35offenders being apprehended, a 25 per centimprovement in cleanliness and diversionaryprogrammes being created for offenders.

Street cleanliness

Brent Council wants over 81 per cent of theborough’s streets to meet Governmentcleanliness standards. Brent’s streets areinspected once every four months by KeepBritain Tidy.

Over the past few years, there has been acontinuous improvement in street cleanliness.

Independent figures from the ‘Keep BritainTidy’ campaign recently gave the borough'sroads and pavements the best-ever score. Land free of litter and detritus (stones, gritand dirt) has gone up from 68 per cent in2006/07 to 84 per cent in 2008/09. Similarly,land free of graffiti has increased from 80.1per cent in 2006/07 to 85 per cent in 2008/09.This follows a council decision to invest anextra £2.1m from April 2007 in first classstreet-cleaning and recycling services providedby Veolia Environmental Services. Before that, Brent performance was below theLondon average.

Drainage misconnections

Drainage misconnections occur where waste(foul) water is released into surface waterdrainage systems, causing pollution. Problemscan also occur where a surcharge of surfacewater flows into foul drains or when theexcess of water causes flooding.

The council’s Building Control Service isworking closely with Thames Water Authorityand Environmental Health to reduce thenumber of drainage misconnections and raiseawareness amongst the public and buildingindustry of the implications of incorrectdrainage on our environment.

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DCSF Playbuilder

The council has been successful in attaining a £1.2 million DCSF (Department for Children,Schools and Families) Playbuilder grant tobuild or improve 20-24 children’s playgroundsacross the borough. They are to be innovative,exciting and attractive to children andinclusive for children with disabilities and from minority groups. This project has forgedstrong consultation networks with youngpeople. In 2008-9, nine existing sites weredeveloped or improved. Over the followingtwo years of capital grant, 2009-2011, 11 sitesare to be developed, plus a minimum of twocommunity projects.

Water

Parks have reduced their annual waterconsumption by one third, from 30,299m3 in2007 to 20,290m3 in 2008, using a variety ofwater conservation measures. These includerooftop rain water harvesting at RoundwoodPark; use of water from a spring in GladstonePark; use of water saving devices for toiletsand urinals; accepting that some areas shouldnot be maintained as 'lush green' during timesof low rainfall; using drought resistant grassand wildflower mixes on some projects; andcreating and restoring ponds (fed by naturalsources only) to reduce the risks of pondsdrying up in dry seasons.

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Achievements

• Silver-Gilt award for HorticulturalExcellence in the London in Bloomcompetition 2008.

• Silver award in Britain in Bloomcompetition 2007.

• Silver award for London in Bloom 2007 inthe city category and gold award in 2006.

• Third prize in 2007 and special award in2005 for the Best Bedding Display inGreater London for the Gladstone ParkWalled Garden.

• Third place for both the Best CommunityGarden for Mapesbury Dell (developed by local volunteers, the Mapesbury DellTrust) and Parks Bedding in thediscretionary awards.

• The prestigious Green Flag award iscurrently held by Roundwood, Gladstone,Barham and Preston Parks and MapesburyDell. Roundwood has held the award for11 years.

• Roundwood, Gladstone and Barham Parksare named in the Good Parks Guide.

• Roe Green Walled Garden received aGreen Pennant in 2008.

• St Raphael's Estate named by the GoodDog Campaign as one of the top tenplaces to walk your dog in the UK.

• Findings from the TELUS Survey 2008 showthat the young people of Brent havemade their local parks and playgroundsthe third most voted for in the country.

Environmental improvements

Key statistics

• 84 per cent of roads now meetgovernment cleanliness standards – upfrom a low starting level of 51 per cent

• 92 per cent of residents questioned saidthe installation of alley-gates wereeffective at combating environmental crime

Brent Council wants to provide clean, well designed and cared for streetsso that people feel good about the areas in which they live and work.The challenge for the council is to prevent a few people from spoiling theenvironment for the rest of us and to raise standards fast enough to keepup with rising expectations.

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Car-free developments

From 2004 to 2008, 39 car free developmentswere approved. Payments have also beenmade by developers towards city car clubs andsustainable transport improvements.

Renewable energy

45.8 per cent of major planning permissionsgranted during 2006/07 included a proposedten per cent proportion of energy demandfrom renewable sources. Eight of these 11were for onsite technologies (including twoCHP (combined heat and power), 16 roof-mounted turbines, 12 PV (photovoltaic) streetlights, nine solar thermal panels), while twoconsents were for off-site ‘Green Tariffs’(minimum of 30 per cent electricity supply) forthe life of the development.

Reducing pressure on our green fields

The proportion of new homes being built onpreviously used land has consistently been higher than the government target of 60 per cent. In 2007/08, 99 per cent of land built onwas brownfield.

Bent Council works with developers and theEnvironment Agency to promote thesustainable remediation of potentiallycontaminated sites in the borough.

Council buildings

It is key that sustainability is built into thecouncil’s major capital projects, in line with thecouncil’s supplementary planning guidance.

Examples include the new Wembley PrimarySchool, Willesden Leisure Centre, and schemesput forward as part of the recently agreedhousing PFI. The architect’s approach tosustainability was one of six criteria used toassess appointment of the design team for thenew Civic Centre.

At Willesden Leisure Centre, the contractorwas required to ensure that considerationwas given to all materials and constructionsystems for their durability, longevity,environmental sustainability and suitability.Achieving a BREEAM rating ‘Good’, itfeatures natural light and ventilation, highefficiency boilers, heat pumps, coolingzones, light sensors, and UV filters toreduce the amounts of chemicals usedin the pool.

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Planning, design and construction South Kilburn redevelopment

The development of demonstration homesand Granville New Homes form part of themasterplan for the regeneration of SouthKilburn. The schemes were devised to besocially and environmentally sustainable andhave been designed to include:

• green roofs

• 130 units of good quality and social amenitiesincluding the Tabot Centre which is to berebuilt to even higher sustainability standards

• no car parking

• orientation to make betteruse of solar energy

• solar panels

• communal heating systems

• bicycle storage (two bikes per unit)

• Additional open spaces tocompensate for the loss of the existingopen space in the area.

Key facts

• Over 97 per cent of new homes were builton previously developed land between2004 and 2008.

• All major planning applications areassessed for sustainability using asustainable development checklist, SPG19.

• All rented units are required to meetEcohomes ‘Very Good’ rating under theHousing Corporations fundingrequirements for 2006-2008.

The site also incorporates other significantsustainable elements:

• Rainwater collected to irrigate some partsof the landscaped areas.

• Solar energy used to provide hot water andheating to every home.

• A structure that stores heat energy that canthen be released later in the day.

• Other provisions for the future: a potentialbiomass combined heat and power systemthat would draw up extra heat energy fromdeep bore holes below the scheme.Artist’s impression of the new Civic Centre

Brent Town Hall

Green Zones

The Green Zones scheme is a communityproject started by a Brent resident. GreenZones aim to make a difference to thecommunity and environment through localaction. To do this, a volunteer resident talks to their neighbours about waste and recycling,energy efficiency, water efficiency andtransport, to raise awareness about positiveenvironmental actions. By showing somesimple environmental behaviours, theparticipating households become a ‘Green Zone’.

Once a street or block of flats becomes a‘Green Zone’ it is offered rewards, such as freewater butts, compost bins, eco kettles and aten per cent discount at a local garden centre.

In addition to an increased awareness ofenvironmental issues, streets which havebecome green zones have noticed a rise incommunity spirit.

By March 2009 seven neighbourhoods and 460 households had achieved ‘Green Zone’ status.

StreetWatchers

StreetWatchers are Brent residents whovolunteer their time on behalf of BrentCouncil to act as the eyes and the ears of theborough and work with the council to helpimprove local environmental quality.StreetWatchers are asked to keep an eye ontheir street and report any problems toStreetCare.

Brent Council undertakes daily checks of thelocal environment, but its officers cannot bedown every street every day and there is nosubstitute for the local knowledge that theStreetWatchers provide. This innovativescheme therefore enables the environment ofBrent to be more closely and regularlymonitored, resulting in the borough beingkept as clean as possible.

Welsh Harp EnvironmentalEducation Centre

This centre provides environmental educationand activity for school and college students ofall ages.

It is situated in the grounds of the BrentReservoir, commonly known as the WelshHarp, which is a 170 hectare area of openwater, marshes, trees and grassland. It isdesignated a Site of Special Scientific Interest(SSSI). The Reservoir provides a valuablehabitat for wildlife and an attractiverecreational centre. The Education Centre iswithin minutes of this reservoir, as well as apublic open space, two churchyards, the NorthCircular Road and Neasden Village, all ofwhich provide a range of natural and humanenvironments for study.

There are opportunities to cover many areasof the National Curriculum at the Welsh Harp,from Science, Geography, History andEnvironmental Education, to English, Maths,Technology, IT and Art. Its considerable size, its range of habitats, and the "oasis" effect ofbeing close to heavily built-up areas combineto make it an outstanding educationalresource.

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Awareness raising, events and initiativesBrent Sustainability Forum Brent Fairtrade Network

The council launched the Brent FairtradeNetwork (BFN) in 2004. The BFN hassubsequently become constituted as a localcommunity group, comprising 85 members,and has worked with the council over the lastfive years to promote Fairtrade. Sub-groupshave been formed to promote action inschools, faith centres, shops and at communityevents. Restaurant owners, caterers, retailoutlets, and major employers in Brent havealso been successfully worked with. BSF hasalso actively promoted the use of fairly tradedproducts within the council's buildings. Thenetwork has submitted an application forBrent to be recognised as a Fairtrade borough,which will mark the partnership'sachievements.

Brent resident Jack Lakeyset up a successfulGreen Zone in his street

World Fair Trade Day poster

Coffee picker in Guatemala

The Brent Sustainability Forum was set up byBrent Council in 2008 to provide a network forpublic, private, community and voluntarysectors to share information, expertise,resources and lessons learned, in order toaddress a variety of environmental andsustainability issues in the borough.

This forum is now a partnership of over 100individuals, groups and organisations, whoactively engage in a diverse programme ofworkshops, seminars, training and activitieswhich address the use of natural resources inthe borough, energy efficiency, climate changeand sustainable travel.

Going Green campaign

Brent Council started a ‘Going Green’campaign in 2003 that aims to provide councilstaff with helpful information on how theycan reduce the impacts of their activities onthe environment.

The campaign has helped to raise awarenessof environmental issues and promoted theadoption of good practice at work,encouraging staff to reduce their energyconsumption and waste, in order to savemoney and look after the environment.

Community festivals and events

Community festivals and events have helpedto raise Brent residents’ awareness andinterest in the environment, promoting moresustainable thinking and day-to-day behaviour.

Recent events have included holding stalls atwell established events to distributeinformation and freebies; organisingexhibitions and displays to showcase localexamples of sustainability; organisingenvironment markets to promoteenvironmentally friendly products and services;organising activities and workshops for thecommunity to interact with and gain practicalknow-how; putting on shows to promoteenvironmental messages; organising trainingevents and seminars; organising site visits; andputting on large events, including the LivingGreen Fair at Gladstonbury Festival andRespect Our Environment at RoundwoodPark’s Respect Festival.

Feedback received at these events, collectedvia questionnaires, shows that Brent’scommunity want to learn more about theenvironment. In surveys residents said they arefairly familiar with the state of theenvironment and initiatives in Brent but wouldlike to receive more information to stayabreast of what they can do to be more

sustainable and would be interested in gettinginvolved with local environmental initiatives.

The events are an effective vehicle todemonstrate in a fun and interactive waywhat is happening in Brent to improve theenvironment.

Communications

Regular articles and updates are published inlocal and regional publications to deliverenvironmental messages to Brent’s residentsand employees in the borough. Brent Council’swebsite has a number of dedicated spaces forsustainability and provides a useful one stopshop of information on carbon emissions,climate change and local initiatives.

26Both photos: Tri-Unity Festival in Brent

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The team within the Environment and CultureDepartment responsible for co-ordination anddelivery of the sustainability agenda has beenallocated additional growth funding within the2009/10 budget.

An Energy Manager has been appointed withinthe council’s Property and Asset Managementfunction responsible for energy management,education awareness and cost minimisation acrossthe council’s property portfolio.

Joint work is being carried out with the CarbonTrust to develop a long term plan to reduce thecouncil’s carbon footprint. The council has a target to reduce its carbon emissions by six per cent byMarch 2011.

Work is being done to reduce the environmentalimpact of staff travel. This includes the use of carclubs and team Oyster cards for work travel;encouraging staff to walk; and providing showersand offering support to staff who cycle to work.

The council has a target to increase Brent’sresidential recycling rate to 30 per cent by March 2010.

A Climate Change Officer is to be recruited tothe council’s Environmental Projects and Policyteam to work on mitigating and adapting toclimate change in the borough.

A total of 20 Green Zones are to be set up inBrent by 2010.

The Parks Service is looking to use compostmade from organic waste in its sports pitches.

Brent Council is striving to become one of themost sustainable boroughs in London. As a result,plans are to build the new civic centre to BREEAMlevel ‘outstanding’.

Looking forward

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“Brent Council is striving to become one of the most

sustainable boroughs in London.”