The big society is crossing swords with the localism agenda in Brent, north London. You
may recall the Friends of Kensal Rise Library, a voluntary group that was being frustrated by
Labour-led Brent Council. They are one of six community organisations in the borough who are unsuccessfully resisting the council’s decision to close 6 libraries.
The council is adamant that the campaigners cannot succeed unless they raise sufficient funds independent of the council; the council leader, Labour’s Ann John, told the Kilburn Times:
‘If they can come up with a plan at no cost to the council then we will listen.’
So far the various campaign groups have not found an alternative source of funding, but neither has the council exhausted all the possibilities open to it. Last month, Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors tabled a Budget
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