PEOPLE in Brent are being encouraged to fill in the 2011 Census form so the borough is allocated the correct amount of funding from Government.
Most funding from Central Government to local authorities is based on population head count. The more people there are, the more money a town or place will get.
But Brent Council is losing an estimated £20 million a year in Government grants due to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) underestimating Brent's population.
ONS records the borough's population at 255,500 but the council, after an independent review, calculates it at 289,000.
It is vital that ONS has the correct information so Brent is given the correct amount of funding to build new schools, roads and health services.
A study by ONS found that households which do not respond include those renting from housing associations or the council; where the occupants were from black, Asian or mixed-ethnic groups; single parent families; where the average age of people in the house was over 70; in deprived areas.
Councillor Zaffar Van Kalwala, (Labour) said: "Its really important that all residents participate and I urge everyone to complete their census forms.
"We all use public services such as schools, roads and health services. If people living in Brent are not counted in the 2011 Census, Brent Council will have less money to pay for these services."
Census Day is on March 27. The council will be offering help to people in the two weeks following Census Day.
For more information and to find out where you can complete the form visit www.brent.gov.uk or visit http://www.census.gov.uk/
