I am delighted to extend my warmest greetings to all residents of Brent.

The Christmas holidays are a magical time in our wonderful borough, as residents from all our communities take a well earned break to relax and spend time with our families.

It is a particular honour to be sending you this greeting as Leader of the Council, following my Labour colleagues’ landslide victory at this year’s local elections. It is a privilege to serve you and all the residents of the borough I have always been proud to call my home.

I know that for many of you this has not been the easiest year, with money tighter than usual and uncertainty about the future. We are certainly feeling the pressure at the Town Hall, faced with the prospect of implementing the most brutal cuts in political memory. Despite the Government’s best attempts to ruin Christmas, I want to reassure you that I and my Labour colleagues will continue to work for every member of our community.

I wish all of Brent’s residents and employees a restful Christmas, and a happy and prosperous new year.