The council hailed the new carnival plans as "inspirational" as it puts Caribbean tradition and concern for residents at centre stage.

Amongst the many proposals were:

• The return of  j'ouvert or day open - an early morning Trinidadian carnival tradition when revellers mask themselves in horrors of blood and mud to mock and frighten the society that oppresses them.
• The Carnival Sunday to be completely dedicated to the Childrens Carnival
• The judging point on the carnival route is to return to its position on Great Western Road. This is a particularly bold move because it was moved from that position 12 years ago as it was causing major congestion and public safety problems then, when carnival attendance was 50% less than present levels.
• A conspiracy of carnival trustees and funders are  to exact new standards for Mas costumes with vehicles not performing music or appropriately decorated kept off the route
• Powis Square is to be dedicated to the staging of  Calypso performers from all over the Caribbean and England..
• 'Reduced participation when coupled with reduced facilitation will eventually lead to reduced attendance and therefore a better carnival' goes the thinking from the Town Hall.
• The Notting Hill Carnival Trust has also abolished membership of its organisation. Where previously  members were categorized as 'members in waiting' while the status of the company was in transition, there is now no membership and the assets of the company will be settled at a later date.   

These plans were announced by Ansel Wong, of the Notting Hill Carnival Trust, at a meeting convened by the GLA and RBK&C. With Ansel Wong on the top table were Lee Jasper, representing the GLA, Cllrs. Merrick Cockell and David Campion from the Royal Borough, Cllr Alan Bradley of Westminster City Council and Commander Mike Messenger in charge of Carnival policing. The meeting was chaired by the Rev'd Hugh Rayment-Pickard.

The RBK&C and  GLA have emerged as clear winners in the battle that was the war of attrition fought out for control of  the event during last autumn and winter months. Together they devised a 29 point plan for carnival which, when fully implemented, will result in the Notting Hill Carnival Trust being closed down and a new limited liability company established to manage the event.   The GLA spending in the battle for control was alone  large enough to wholly finance three Notting Hill Carnivals; all in their bid to remove Claire Holder's administration from the offices of the trust.

The plan is the brainchild of  Lee Jasper of the GLA and Peter Ramage of the RBK&C who have been working closely together to achieve the New Dawn for carnival.  Together they have guided the remaining trustees of the Notting Hill Carnival Trust through the financial and political hurdles, advising on best practice for the administration of the event. They are particularly keen to implement a financial strategy to manage the £165,000 cash that has been left over from Claire Holder's administration. 

The upshot is that Claire Holder's post as Chief Executive is  suspended while the GLA's appointed lawyers research ways to sack her. Antonn McCalla who is a trustee and past chairman has resigned in protest and Chris Nortey,  the finance director for the past thirteen years, has also resigned in protest.

Still, the GLA and RBK&C promise a better carnival. than  ever. (Watch this space! )

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