OUR PLEDGES FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
Cut Waste and Bureaucracy before Taking More from Residents
Every time Labour proposes raising your Council Tax, we will insist they first demonstrate that waste has been cut. Residents have already faced repeated 4.99% annual increases, even as figures show £92.2 million in uncollected council tax arrears. The council tax burden is now the highest it has ever been, with Band D bills reaching £2,235.
As your Conservative councillors, we will scrutinise the budget line by line, challenge vanity projects, question over‑paid consultants, expose budget overspends such as this year’s £14.9 million gap, and make the case that residents should not be asked to pay more until the council proves it can manage its resources responsibly.
Standing Up for Local Businesses — Lower Costs, Fairer Streets
Small businesses are the engines of growth in Brent’s high streets and communities. Many traders say rising costs are pushing them to the brink, which is why we will fight against any unjustified increase in Business Rates. We will also campaign for 1-hour free parking across Brent’s high streets — because without footfall, businesses struggle, and without thriving businesses, jobs and vibrant communities are put at risk.
Scrap the Bulky Waste Charge and Increase Community Skip Days
Labour's £55 bulky waste collection charge discourages proper waste disposal. This encourages fly-tipping across the borough costing the council over £1.5 million a year to clean up. We will campaign to scrap this charge entirely, because charging residents for disposing waste responsibly doesn’t make sense. We will also push for more Community Skip Days in every ward, giving residents a free, convenient and responsible way to clear unwanted items. We believe it would help reduce fly‑tipping and keep Brent’s streets cleaner for everyone.
Fix the Roads and Pavements — Hold Labour to Account
Brent has 18 potholes per mile across 315 miles of roads — one of the worst rates in London. At Labour’s current resurfacing pace of just 4 miles a year, it would take around 79 years to bring every road in the borough up to standard. We will challenge Labour’s plan for our roads at relevant meetings and demand a credible long-term resurfacing plan, push for transparent repair timelines, and hold contractors to account when cheap patches fail within days. Safer roads and pavements are not a luxury; they are a necessity.
Protect Green Spaces, Biodiversity and the Character of Our Communities
Brent's parks and open spaces are irreplaceable — once built on, they are gone for good. We will scrutinise and challenge any planning application or council decision that threatens green spaces, undermines local biodiversity, or represents over-development that overwhelms existing infrastructure and changes the character of established neighbourhoods. We will demand genuine consultations before disposing or developing our open green spaces and make the case loudly when we believe Labour is getting it wrong.