Agenda, decisions and minutes
Venue: Committee Rooms 1, 2 and 3, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, HA9 9HD. View directions
Contact: Anne Reid, Principal Democratic Services Officer 020 8937 1359, Email: anne.reid@brent.gov.uk
No. | Item |
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Declarations of personal and prejudicial interests Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, any relevant financial or other interest in the items on this agenda. Decision: Councillor Thomas declared an interest in the item on the award of contract for Brent Civic Centre. Minutes: Councillor Thomas declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the item on the award of contract for Brent Civic Centre and left the room during discussion of the item. |
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Minutes of the previous meeting PDF 115 KB Decision: Agreed. Minutes: RESOLVED:-
that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 September 2010 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting. |
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Matters arising (if any) Decision: None. Minutes: None. |
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Deputations (if any) Decision: The views of petitioners were heard under item 6 below. Minutes: The views of petitioners were heard under item 6 below. |
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Update on implementing the new policy for allocation of early years' full time places PDF 74 KB Over the summer officers took the opportunity to update a previous assessment of the likely demand for and supply of fulltime places before commencing the consultation process with parents. Officers now need to reconsider the proposed minimum eligibility criteria given the potential mismatch between demand and supply. This will be followed by extensive consultation with parents as some children who are currently benefitting from fulltime provision may no longer be entitled to such provision. Parents/carers will therefore need an early indication if they are to make alternative provision. Decision: that the introduction of the new policy for allocating full time early years places be implemented from September 2012. Minutes: Councillor Arnold introduced the report which sought to delay implementation of a new policy for the allocation of early years full time places based on need from September 2011 as agreed by the Executive in February 2010.
RESOLVED:-
that the introduction of the new policy for allocating full time early years places be implemented from September 2012. |
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Petition against reduced staffing levels at Alperton Cemetery PDF 82 KB This report informs the Executive of a petition that was received from residents against the reduction of staffing levels at Alperton cemetery. They have concerns that the level of maintenance of the cemetery will reduce. The petition also states that visitors felt safe when staff were present and that already a noticeable difference in security issues has arisen. Decision: i. that the contents of the petition received and the concerns of the petitioners regarding the security issues and levels of maintenance at Alperton Cemetery be noted;
ii. that the current status of security at Alperton Cemetery be noted;
iii. that the information set out in the report submitted on why the changes to the service have occurred be noted;
iv. that no reinstatement of staffing levels at the present time be undertaken but that a further report be submitted after the new arrangements have been in operation for 6 months.
Minutes: Mrs Thompson spoke on behalf of visitors to the cemetery and in support of the petition submitted to the Council. She reminded the Executive that Alperton Cemetery was named cemetery of the year in 2007. She asked why the visitors to the cemetery were not consulted about the changes which were only found out about by talking to the workmen working in the cemetery. Since the changes had been introduced there had been vandalism and it was very upsetting to those that had loved ones buried there. Another petitioner added that she had gone to the cemetery that evening and found the gates unlocked after the closing time of 5pm with youths congregating because of the lack of security. She added that the grass cutting had been carried out poorly and it was very disappointing to see what was happening to the cemetery.
The Leader thanked the petitioners for attending the meeting.
The Leader referred the petition received by the Council. The report before the Executive dealt with the concerns raised by the petitioners over the reduction in staffing levels at Alperton Cemetery.
Councillor Powney referred to the two principle concerns raised by the petitioners. Following the Council's reorganisation the landscaping function had been transferred to the Parks Service and he undertook to pass on the concerns raised. Regarding the security aspect he confirmed that the gates should be locked and that therefore this also needed to be taken up. However he added that upon introducing these measures the police had been consulted and had not raised any issues.
Councillor Brown spoke as ward councillor in support of the concerns raised by the petitioners.
It was agreed that officers should meet with representatives of the petitioners to communicate to them what action would be taken to address their concerns and in light of this it was also agreed that the position should be reviewed in 6 months time.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that the contents of the petition received and the concerns of the petitioners regarding the security issues and levels of maintenance at Alperton Cemetery be noted;
(ii) that the current status of security at Alperton Cemetery be noted;
(iii) that the information set out in the report submitted on why the changes to the service have occurred be noted;
(iv) that no reinstatement of staffing levels at the present time be undertaken but that a further report be submitted after the new arrangements have been in operation for 6 months. |
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Furniture charging policy for homeless households PDF 118 KB This report seeks Members’ agreement to amendments to the existing policy for charging homeless households in relation to the removal, storage and delivery of their belongings. Additional documents:
Decision: i. that the proposed changes to the schedule of charges for the removal, delivery and storage of homeless households’ belongings be approved, as outlined in paragraph 3.20 of the report submitted and the exemptions policy be adopted, as outlined in paragraph 3.25 of the report;
ii. that the schedule of charges and the exemptions policy as set out in paragraphs 3.20 and 3.25 of the report submitted be approved and implemented with effect from 29 November 2010 for all new requests for assistance and for existing goods in storage. Minutes: Councillor Thomas introduced the report which sought to amend the existing policy for charging homeless households in relation to the removal, storage and delivery of their belongings
The Executive also had before them an appendix to the report which was not for publication as it contained the following category of exempt information as specified in Schedule 12 of the Local Government (Access to Information Act) 1972:
Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that the proposed changes to the schedule of charges for the removal, delivery and storage of homeless households’ belongings be approved, as outlined in paragraph 3.20 of the report submitted and the exemptions policy be adopted, as outlined in paragraph 3.25 of the report;
(ii) that the schedule of charges and the exemptions policy as set out in paragraphs 3.20 and 3.25 of the report submitted be approved and implemented with effect from 29 November 2010 for all new requests for assistance and for existing goods in storage. |
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Brent Section 75 Partnership Agreement PDF 99 KB This report updates Members as to discussions with Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust with regard to a proposed fundamental review of partnership arrangements and recommends a further 5 year extension to the current partnership arrangement between the Council and Central and North West London NHS Foundation from 1 January 2011. This proposed extension to the partnership agreement includes a Break Clause enabling either party to terminate should there be any unforeseen changes in NHS structures. It also recommends amending the existing partnership agreement to incorporate mental health services for older people. Decision: i. that an extension of the existing partnership arrangement with Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust be agreed for a period of 5 years from 1 January 2011;
ii. that the existing partnership agreement with Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust be amended to incorporate the inclusion of the mental health services for older people resources into the partnership agreement;
iii. that the Director of Housing and Community Care, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Corporate Services be authorised to resolve any outstanding issues with Central and North West London Mental Health Foundation NHS Trust prior to entering into the extension period detailed in i. above.
Minutes: The report before the Executive outlined discussions with the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust with regard to a fundamental review of partnership arrangements and proposed an extension to the current partnership arrangement.
Councillor R Moher introduced the report and added that because of the government’s proposals for changing the way health provision would be delivered in the future, the proposal provided for a break clause.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that an extension of the existing partnership arrangement with Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust be agreed for a period of 5 years from 1 January 2011;
(ii) that the existing partnership agreement with Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust be amended to incorporate the inclusion of the mental health services for older people resources into the partnership agreement;
(iii) that the Director of Housing and Community Care, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Corporate Services be authorised to resolve any outstanding issues with Central and North West London Mental Health Foundation NHS Trust prior to entering into the extension period detailed in (i) above. |
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Award of contract for Brent Civic Centre Contractor PDF 88 KB
This report summarises the procurement process undertaken by the Council to procure a Design & Build contractor and requests authority to award a contract for the appointment of a Design & Build contractor for the new Civic Centre. A supplementary report will be tabled at the meeting identifying the successful tenderer. Additional documents:
Decision: i. that the design and build contract for the Civic Centre be awarded to Skanska Construction UK Limited;
ii. that the Assistant Director (Civic Centre) with the Director of Legal and Procurement be authorised to finalise the terms of appointment.
Minutes: Councillor John introduced the report on the award of the contract to design and build the new Civic Centre.
A supplementary report was tabled at the meeting. The Borough Solicitor advised that in taking a decision on the matter, the Executive could resolve to take the tabled paper in public.
The Assistant Director for the Civic Centre stated that four tenders for the contract had been received and a lot of work had gone into evaluating them against set criteria. He was recommending the award of the contract to Skanska Construction UK Ltd.
The Executive also had before them appendix 2 and 3 to the report which were not for publication as they contained the following category of exempt information as specified in Schedule 12 of the Local Government (Access to Information Act) 1972:
Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding the information).
RESOLVED:-
(i) that the supplementary report tabled at the meeting be taken in public;
(ii) that the design and build contract for the Civic Centre be awarded to Skanska Construction UK Limited;
(iii) that the Assistant Director (Civic Centre) with the Director of Legal and Procurement be authorised to finalise the terms of appointment.
(Councillor Thomas had declared an interest in the above item and withdrew from the meeting room during discussion on the item) |
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2010/11 Revenue Budget PDF 112 KB This report updates the position on the 2010/11 Revenue Budget based on forecasts for the first five months of the financial year. There is significant pressure on the budget and a number of overspends are reported. The report also asks the Executive to agree a number of virements. Decision: i. that the latest budget position in 2010/11 be noted;
ii. that all directors ensure that spending is kept within budget and that measures are taken, in consultation with relevant Executive portfolio holders, to achieve this;
iii. that the virements shown in Appendix B to the report submitted be agreed. Minutes: Councillor Butt introduced the report which updated the Executive on the position of the 2010/2011 revenue budget. He pointed out where the pressures were on the budget and that the relevant directors had been tasked to reduce any overspends.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that the latest budget position in 2010/11 be noted;
(ii) that all directors ensure that spending is kept within budget and that measures are taken, in consultation with relevant Executive portfolio holders, to achieve this;
(iii) that the virements shown in Appendix B to the report submitted be agreed. |
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White Paper, “Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" - council response PDF 107 KB The government white paper, Equity and Excellence – Liberating the NHS, was published on the 12th July 2010. The white paper sets out a radical set of proposals for change within the NHS, including significant structural change and an overhaul of health service commissioning arrangements in England. Primary Care Trusts and Strategic Health Authorities are to be abolished. GP commissioning consortia will be established as statutory bodies and will be responsible for commissioning the majority of health services. The Executive should endorse the council’s response to the NHS White Paper. Members Additional documents: Decision: that the Council’s response to the NHS White Paper, Equity and Excellence – Liberating the NHS, included at appendix 1 to the report submitted, be endorsed. Minutes: Councillor R Moher introduced the report which attached the Council’s response to the Government’s White Paper, Equity and Excellence – Liberating the NHS. The Director of Housing and Community Care added that the Council’s response was very comprehensive and reflected the discussions at overview and scrutiny.
RESOLVED:-
that the Council’s response to the NHS White Paper, Equity and Excellence – Liberating the NHS, included at appendix 1 to the report submitted, be endorsed. |
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Annual Complaints Report 09/10 PDF 134 KB This report provides information about complaints against Brent Council considered by the Local Government Ombudsman, comments on the Council’s performance under its own corporate complaints procedure, and reports on developments in the Council’s complaint handling. The annual reports on the operation of the statutory children’s and adult social care complaints process are presented with this report to give Members a comprehensive picture of complaints made against the Council. Additional documents: Decision: Noted. Minutes: The Director of Policy and Regeneration introduced the report about complaints against Brent Council. He said that the report showed good performance in dealing with complaints at stage 3 but that more work needed to be done to resolve complaints at stage 1.
Appendices to the report had been circulated separately.
RESOVED:-
that the report be noted. |
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This report requests authority to award three contracts for the provision of Banking, Card Acquiring and Bill Payment services as required by Contract Standing Order 88. This report summarises the procurement process undertaken by the Council to procure suppliers to provide the services and, following completion of the evaluation of tenders, recommends to whom the contract should be awarded. Additional documents:
Decision: i. that a contract for the provision of banking services be awarded for five years with an optional two year extension to National Westminster Bank Plc, to commence on 1 April 2011;
ii. that the contract for Card Acquiring be awarded for five years three months with an option to extend for two years to National Westminster Bank Plc to commence on 2 January 2011;
iii. that a contract for Bill Payment Services be awarded for five years with an option to extend for two years to allpay Limited to commence on 1 April 2011.
Minutes: Councillor Butt introduced the report which sought authority to award contracts for the provision of Banking, Card Acquiring and Bill Payment services.
The Executive also had before them appendices 2 and 4 to the report which were not for publication as they contained the following category of exempt information as specified in Schedule 12 of the Local Government (Access to Information Act) 1972:
Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).
RESOLVED:-
(i) that a contract for the provision of banking services be awarded for five years with an optional two year extension to National Westminster Bank Plc, to commence on 1 April 2011;
(ii) that the contract for Card Acquiring be awarded for five years three months with an option to extend for two years to National Westminster Bank Plc to commence on 2 January 2011;
(iii) that a contract for Bill Payment Services be awarded for five years with an option to extend for two years to allpay Limited to commence on 1 April 2011. |
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The redevelopment and leasing of the Eton Grove Nursery and Youth and Community Centre PDF 520 KB This report seeks to inform Members as to the results of the tender for the redevelopment of the Eton Grove Nursery, Youth, and Community Centre and to seek their approval for the proposed redevelopment of the existing site and the granting of a long lease. Additional documents:
Decision: i. that the redevelopment proposals of the existing site of the Eton Grove Nursery and Youth and Community Centre be agreed as set out in the report submitted, subject to compliance with the procedures in respect of the disposal of public open space as set out in ii. below and to the grant of planning permission and other requisite consents;
ii. that the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services be authorised tocommence and comply with the procedure set out in Section 123(2A) of the Local Government Act 1972 by publishing a public notice in the local newspaper on two consecutive publication dates of the Council’s intention to dispose of public open space comprising the Eton Grove Nursery and Youth and Community Centre and in particular to consider any objections made to the disposal, and unless there are objections received, which in her opinion are significant, to implement the proposed disposal;
iii. that if such objections deemed to be significant are received then a further report be submitted to the Executive for consideration;
iv. that the Head of Property and Asset Management be authorised to agree the necessary terms as shall be in the best financial interests of the Council for the leasing of the completed development.
Minutes: Councillor Butt introduced the report on the redevelopment of the Eton Grove Nursery, Youth and Community Centre.
The Executive also had before them an appendix to the report which was not for publication as it contained the following category of exempt information as specified in Schedule 12 of the Local Government (Access to Information Act) 1972:
Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).
RESOLVED:-
(i) that the redevelopment proposals of the existing site of the Eton Grove Nursery and Youth and Community Centre be agreed as set out in the report submitted, subject to compliance with the procedures in respect of the disposal of public open space as set out in (ii). below and to the grant of planning permission and other requisite consents;
(ii) that the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services be authorised tocommence and comply with the procedure set out in Section 123(2A) of the Local Government Act 1972 by publishing a public notice in the local newspaper on two consecutive publication dates of the Council’s intention to dispose of public open space comprising the Eton Grove Nursery and Youth and Community Centre and in particular to consider any objections made to the disposal, and unless there are objections received, which in her opinion are significant, to implement the proposed disposal;
(iii) that if such objections deemed to be significant are received then a further report be submitted to the Executive for consideration;
(iv) that the Head of Property and Asset Management be authorised to agree the necessary terms as shall be in the best financial interests of the Council for the leasing of the completed development. |
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This report relates to the appointment of an insurance provider to the West London Alliance (WLA) framework in respect of Right to Buy insurance for leaseholders and the award of a contract to that supplier by Brent Council. The proposed contract would be available from 1 November 2010 and this report summarises the process undertaken in tendering the framework and, following the evaluation of the tenders, recommends appointment to the WLA framework and the award of a Brent contract. Additional documents:
Decision: i. that Acumis be appointed to the West London Alliance single-provider framework for leaseholder right to buy insurance with effect from 1 November 2010, with the framework running for a period of three years;
ii. that Acumis be awarded a contract for the provision of insurance to Brent right to buy leaseholders for a period of three years commencing 1 November 2010;
iii. that the observations made by leaseholders, set out in paragraph 3.20 and Appendix 3 of the report submitted in response to the leaseholder consultation notice dated 20 August 2010 regarding the proposal to award the contract to Acumis be noted. Minutes: Councillor Butt introduced the report relating to the appointment of an insurance provider to the West London Alliance framework in respect of Right to Buy insurance for leaseholders and the award of a contract to that supplier by Brent Council.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that Acumis be appointed to the West London Alliance single-provider framework for leaseholder right to buy insurance with effect from 1 November 2010, with the framework running for a period of three years;
(ii) that Acumis be awarded a contract for the provision of insurance to Brent right to buy leaseholders for a period of three years commencing 1 November 2010;
(iii) that the observations made by leaseholders, set out in paragraph 3.20 and Appendix 3 of the report submitted in response to the leaseholder consultation notice dated 20 August 2010 regarding the proposal to award the contract to Acumis be noted. |
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Printing Review Tender Results PDF 207 KB This report relates to the provision of a managed print service covering all office printing and all printing currently undertaken by the Print Shop. The report summarises the process undertaken in tendering this contract and, following completion of the evaluation of the tenders, requests approval from the Executive for the award of the contract. The managed print service is expected to deliver estimated savings against current costs of a minimum of £2.7 million over 6 years. Additional documents:
Decision: that a contract for a managed print service be awarded to Xerox (UK) Limited to start on 3 January 2011 to last for a period of four years with the option to extend the contract for a further two years. Minutes: Councillor Butt introduced the report relating to the provision of a managed print service covering all office printing and all printing currently undertaken by the Print Shop.
The Executive also had before them appendices 6, 7 and 8 to the report which were not for publication as they contained the following category of exempt information as specified in Schedule 12 of the Local Government (Access to Information Act) 1972:
Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).
RESOLVED:-
that a contract for a managed print service be awarded to Xerox (UK) Limited to start on 3 January 2011 to last for a period of four years with the option to extend the contract for a further two years. |
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Reference of items considered by Forward Plan Select Committee (if any) Decision: None. Minutes: None. |
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Any Other Urgent Business Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Democratic Services Manager or his representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 64. Decision: None. Minutes: None. |