This week, Channel 5 aired the first episode of their new series At War With Nextdoor, a programme exploring the challenges that can arise between neighbours and the impact that those disputes can have on families and communities. Our enforcement teams are featuring in this four-part series, giving a behind-the-scenes look at the work they’re doing every day to support Brent residents.
While I know that most of us in Brent have positive relationships with those around us, the programme is an important reminder that everyone deserves to feel safe and respected where they live. Strong communities are built on mutual respect and consideration for others. If you are experiencing persistent noise nuisance, anti-social behaviour or other issues affecting your quality of life, please report it to the council so that our teams can investigate.
On Monday, we will bring our new Council Plan to the meeting of Full Council. Creating communities where everyone can thrive is at the heart of that plan, and that comes in many different forms. We’re putting investment into cleaning up our streets, tackling anti-social behaviour, improving local services and supporting residents through difficult circumstances – because you told us that’s what matters to you. We want you to feel truly proud to live here, and connected to those around you.
Keeping children safe is something that should unite us all. Our School Streets are designed to do just that, creating safer and calmer environments around school gates by reducing traffic at the busiest times. Following recent media coverage of the scheme at Manor School, their headteacher shared this powerful reminder of why it matters:
“In my 12 years at Manor School, I've seen how dangerous traffic on Okehampton Road can be for our pupils, many of whom have complex needs and limited road danger awareness. The School Street scheme isn't about raising revenue; it has created a calmer, safer environment that protects some of the borough’s most vulnerable children. Their safety must come first, which is why we fully support the measures and welcome ongoing efforts to make restrictions as clear as possible for drivers.”
We know there are always improvements that can be made, and we’ll continue working with schools and communities to make restrictions clearer and ensure these schemes work as effectively as possible.
Elsewhere, November is also Islamophobia Awareness Month 2026, and this year’s theme, ‘Don’t Let It Slide’, is an important reminder that prejudice and discrimination should never be ignored or allowed to become normalised. In Brent, our diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and everyone should feel safe and proud to call our borough home.
Later this month, we’ll be bringing residents together for our Islamophobia Awareness Month Event 2026 at Brent Civic Centre, raising awareness of Islamophobia and celebrating Muslim communities in Brent and beyond. The free event takes place on Wednesday 25 November, from 6pm to 9pm. Sign up here.
That community spirit has been on display over the past few days as residents came together to celebrate Diwali and Bonfire Night with family, friends and neighbours. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s celebrations safer and more enjoyable. Behind the scenes, our council teams were working hard with retailers, faith leaders, community groups, and the police to keep our streets clean and make sure everyone could celebrate safely, with extra patrols in hot-spot areas and rapid clean-ups across Brent. Almost 40 warnings were given in relation to fireworks, and more than 20 fines were handed out for anti-social behaviour, including littering and street drinking.
This is something we’re focused on year-round, too, as we commit to making our neighbourhoods cleaner for everyone. Earlier this year, we invested another £1.2 million in our waste and street cleansing services through our partnership with Veolia, helping to improve the environment in which we all live. We all have a part to play in tackling fly-tipping and keeping our public spaces looking their best, so we’ll keep making it clear to those who use our streets as rubbish bins that that behaviour is not welcome here.
As we head into the festive season, let's continue to take care of where we live and look out for one another. Together, we can make sure Brent remains a place where everyone feels they belong.
Councillor Muhammed Butt
Leader of Brent Council
