Agenda, decisions and minutes

None made.

RESOLVED:-

that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 23 May 2011 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

None.

The following petitions have been received:

1)         “Stop the Navratri Grant cuts proposed by the Council”

(approximately 281 signatures from people who live, work or study in Brent)

2)         Save the St Patrick’s Day Parade

“We the undersigned sign this petition to ask that Brent Council continue to fund and support the traditional celebrations of St Patrick’s Day in Willesden Green for the benefit of the whole community.”

(approximately 110 signatures from people who live, work or study in Brent)

3)         Save Navratri Petition

“We oppose Brent Council cutting funding for the Navratri Celebrations and call for it to be restored.”

Joint report from the Directors of Citizens and Customer Engagement and Environment and Neighbourhood Services

(approximately 5,000 signatures from people who live, work or study in Brent)

Noted.

Ms Deepa Patel (Secretary, Hindu Council) addressed the Executive, on behalf of petitioners opposing proposals to cut funding for Navratri Celebrations as part of an overall revision of funding for festivals set out in the report from the Directors of Customer and Community Engagement and Environment and Neighbourhood Services. Ms Patel stated that the Festival had been celebrated for 30 years in Brent, was attended by people of all ages and was an opportunity for all including old and disabled people, women and hard to reach groups. She also said that the Festival encouraged young people to understand morals. Ms Patel stated that the events were friendly with no public disorder issues and were beneficial to schools who received funding from the hire of halls and got involved in the cultural activities. The funding was essential to the organisations to provide what was seen to be an important calendar event, enjoyed by all communities that could not be celebrated in homes. Ms Patel called on the council to review festival funding in a fair manner and without bias.

Nakul Shah spoke on behalf of signatories to the petition 'Stop the Navratri cuts proposed by the council' and stated that theh Navratri Festival was associated with those young people who were seen to be polite and willing to volunteer, in contrast to others comprising trouble making gangs. He also referred to the opportunities the Festival provided for people of all groups to enjoy themselves and funds paid to schools which allowed them maintain premises. Mr Shah understood the financial pressures and asked the council to hold discussions to come to a mutually agreeable position.

Mr Michael Sills (Chair, St Patrick's Day Festival Committee) spoke for petitioners asking for the St Patrick's Day Parade to be saved. The Festival has been going for 14 years and was the most important annual celebration, taking place in Willesden High Road in the centre of the community also supported by the Irish business community. Mr Sills hoped to work in partnership with the council support for the Festival which was a show case for music and dance. He asked the council to reconsider proposals to cease funding the festival and ended by thanking the Chair and other councillors for their support over the years, hoping that the festivals could be retained to bring some cheer especially in the current, gloomy economic times.

This report outlines:

·         the overarching draft Arts and Festivals Strategy (Appendix 1) for the council which has been developed following the recent consultation.

·         options for the council’s delivery of an Arts and Festivals Programme for the borough within the current financial constraints. This report takes into consideration feedback from the council’s recent consultation (Appendix 2a and 2b) on the council’s Arts and Festivals offer as well as feedback and monitoring gathered over a number of years (Appendix 3) and London Boroughs events comparison (Appendix 4).

Report deferred.

The Executive heard earlier in the meeting from representatives of petitioners speaking against proposals to reduce funding for festivals in light of the council's financial situation. Councillor Jones (Lead Member, Customers and Citizens) in responding to the petitioners advised that the council had to find approximately £100M of savings in four years. She said that the council could be proud of the support it had given over the years but the budget constraints could not be avoided. Councillor Jones then referred to the Equalities Act which came into effect in April 2011 and advised that the report on the Arts and Festivals Strategy would be withdrawn from consideration so that the full implications of the Equalities legislation could be examined. It was hoped that there would be a report back in July.

The Chair, on behalf of the Executive, thanked all for their contributions.

RESOLVED:

that the report on Arts and Festivals Strategy be withdrawn from consideration to allow further consideration of the implications of the Equalities Act 2010.

In January 2011 the Executive agreed to consult with service users, carers and stakeholders on the proposed transformation of the directly-provided adult social care day services for Mental Health, also known as Community Networks.  This proposal was framed within the Day Opportunities Strategy which had been refreshed to include people suffering with severe and enduring mental health problems. The consultation process is now complete and this report sets out the results of the consultation, the options for transformation and a recommended course of action.

(i)         that approval be given to the refreshed Day Opportunities Strategy attached in Appendix B to the report from the Director of Housing and Community Care;

(ii)        that approval be given to the implementation of Option 4 outlined in the Director's report: replace the current service with four community development workers, working in partnership with Southside Partnership; provide a single base as a meeting place, with limited sessional provision of day services by the Community Development Workers. This will result in the closure of Kingsbury Manor and the Design Works (administrative base) and the relocation of a reduced service to Kingsbury Resource Centre.

The report from the Director of Housing and Community Care set out the results of the consultation with service users, carers and stakeholders on the proposed transformation of the directly-provided adult social care day services for Mental Health, also known as Community Networks, the options for transformation and a recommended course of action. The decision to consult was taken in January 2011 and was framed within the Day Opportunities Strategy which had been refreshed to include people suffering with severe and enduring mental health problems.

Councillor Naheerathan (Ward Councillor, Queensbury) addressed the Executive and presented a petition from residents who had approached him objecting to an option in the Director's report that would result in the closure of Kingsbury Manor, a centre in Roe Green which provided a social care service for people of Asian origin with severe mental health problems.

Councillor R Moher (Lead Member, Adults and Health) introduced the report and reminded the Executive that consultation on this issue had taken place over a three month period in a number of locations and a full Equalities Impact Assessment carried out. Several issues had been raised and what was before members now was a revised strategy for approval. The recommended option, Option four, was now significantly different. The transformation was an on-going process reflective of the alignment with health care and the day opportunities strategy was in line with the personalisation agenda however some users continued to want a buildings-based service. Councillor Moher advised that staff were broadly in support of the principles and that the proposals for four community development workers represented an increase in resources. She drew members' attention to the diversity and equalities implications in the report and recommended Option 4 for approval.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that approval be given to the refreshed Day Opportunities Strategy attached in Appendix B to the report from the Director of Housing and Community Care;

(ii)        that approval be given to the implementation of Option 4 outlined in the Director's report: replace the current service with four community development workers, working in partnership with Southside Partnership; provide a single base as a meeting place, with limited sessional provision of day services by the Community Development Workers. This will result in the closure of Kingsbury Manor and the Design Works (administrative base) and the relocation of a reduced service to Kingsbury Resource Centre.

This report seeks Executive approval to award the main works contract for the construction of new facilities for Adult Day Care at the John Billam Playing Fields site.

that approval be given to the award of the main construction contract for construction of a new Day Care Centre at John Billam Playing Fields to replace the one currently situated at Albert Road to Wates Construction Limited in the Contract Sum of £4,315,097.

The report from the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects sought Executive approval to award the main works contract for the construction of new facilities for Adult Day Care at the John Billam Playing Fields site.  Councillor Crane (Lead Member, Regeneration and Major Projects) reminded the Executive that the proposals were designed to facilitate housing regeneration in South Kilburn by relocating the former day centre in Albert Road.

The Executive also had before them an appendix 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:-

that approval be given to the award of the main construction contract for construction of a new Day Care Centre at John Billam Playing Fields to replace the one currently situated at Albert Road to Wates Construction Limited in the Contract Sum of £4,315,097.

This report seeks the Executive’s approval to dispose of 58 Palermo Road NW10 comprising upper and lower self contained flats at open market value to Brent Housing Partnership pursuant to the Settled Homes Programme. 

that approval be given to the disposal of the property to Brent Housing Partnership (BHP) at open market value in the sum of £410,000 for the purpose of inclusion within the council’s Settled Homes Programme.

Councillor Crane (Lead Member, Regeneration and Major Projects) introduced the report which sought approval to dispose of 58 Palermo Road NW10 comprising upper and lower self-contained flats at open market value to Brent Housing Partnership pursuant to the Settled Homes Programme. 

RESOLVED:-

that approval be given to the disposal of the property to Brent Housing Partnership (BHP) at open market value in the sum of £410,000 for the purpose of inclusion within the council’s Settled Homes Programme.

This report seeks the Executive’s approval for the open market disposal at auction of the freehold of 51 High Road Kilburn NW6 5SB, which comprises three dilapidated and vacant residential upper units known as flats A, B and C and the ground floor shop premises which is sold on long lease, following confirmation from the Chief Executive of Brent Housing Partnership that these residential units are beyond economic repair. The residential units are surplus to the Council’s operational requirements and sale at auction will ensure the best price is achieved for Brent’s freehold interest.

(i)         that approval be given to the open market disposal of the freehold interest of the building comprising dilapidated and vacant residential upper units A, B and C and the ground floor shop premises, which is sold on long lease;

(ii)        that the Assistant Director Regeneration and Major Projects (Property and Asset Management) to instruct auctioneers so as to ensure that the best price is achieved on sale of the freehold at auction and to instruct Legal Procurement in the matter of the disposal.

The report from the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects sought approval for the open market disposal at auction of the freehold of 51 High Road Kilburn NW6 5SB, which comprised three dilapidated and vacant residential upper units known as flats A, B and C and the ground floor shop premises to be sold on long lease, following confirmation from the Chief Executive of Brent Housing Partnership that these residential units were beyond economic repair.   The residential units were surplus to the council’s operational requirements and sale at auction would ensure the best price was achieved for Brent’s freehold interest.

RESOLVED:-

(i)         that approval be given to the open market disposal of the freehold interest of the building comprising dilapidated and vacant residential upper units A, B and C and the ground floor shop premises, which is sold on long lease;

(ii)        that the Assistant Director Regeneration and Major Projects (Property and Asset Management) to instruct auctioneers so as to ensure that the best price is achieved on sale of the freehold at auction and to instruct Legal Procurement in the matter of the disposal.

This report details the process of the competitive tendering for the Procurement and Management of Temporary Accommodation (Private Managed Accommodation), and makes a recommendation as to award pursuant to Contract Standing Order 88. 

that approval be given to the appointment of the contractors recommended and listed at paragraph 3.2.8 of the report from the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects to the Procurement and Management of Temporary Accommodation Framework for a period of two  years from July 2011 with provision to extend the Framework Agreement for a further two years.

The report from the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects detailed the process of the competitive tendering for the Procurement and Management of Temporary Accommodation (Private Managed Accommodation), and mad a recommendation as to award pursuant to Contract Standing Order 88.  Councillor Long (Lead Member, Housing) advised that Brent would be the lead authority for the operation of the framework agreement and that other members of the West London Housing Partnership could call off services from the proposed framework agreement. She added that close monitoring would take place and the arrangement should lead to future financial savings.

The Executive also had before them an appendix 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:

that approval be given to the appointment of the contractors recommended and listed at paragraph 3.2.8 of the report from the Director of Regeneration and Major Projects to the Procurement and Management of Temporary Accommodation Framework for a period of two  years from July 2011 with provision to extend the Framework Agreement for a further two years.

This report describes those changes implemented through the Chief Executive’s delegated powers, seeks the Executive’s agreement to staffing changes requiring its approval and identifies work underway to create new delivery models in response to further key changes in the evolving public sector landscape that are likely to require further structural changes.

(i)         that the continuing national policy developments affecting local government and the wider public sector be noted:

(ii)        that agreement be given to the deletion of the Director of Housing and Community Care post for the reasons set out in paragraphs 3.6 to 3.11 of the report from the Chief Executive;

(iii)       that the Assistant Director, Community Care assume the role of statutory Director of Adult Social Services;

(iv)       that the transfer of the housing function including the client responsibility for Brent Housing Partnership to the Regeneration and Major Projects department, with effect from 1 June 2011, be noted;

(v)        that the work underway in developing a new integrated delivery model for adult social care and health be noted and that a report with recommendations will come to the Executive in the autumn 2011.

The report from the Chief Executive described structural changes implemented through the Chief Executive’s delegated powers in the light of the severity of the funding position for local government and the recent retirement of the Director of Housing and Community Care, sought agreement to staffing changes requiring its approval and identified work underway to create new delivery models in response to further key changes in the evolving public sector landscape that are likely to require further structural changes.

Councillor John (Leader of the Council) drew attention to the implications of the proposals which were to delete the post of Director of Housing and Community Care with the housing function to be part of Regeneration and Major Projects. The role of Adult Social Services would be integrated in the central government's new delivery model for adult social care.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that the continuing national policy developments affecting local government and the wider public sector be noted:

(ii)        that agreement be given to the deletion of the Director of Housing and Community Care post for the reasons set out in paragraphs 3.6 to 3.11 of the report from the Chief Executive;

(iii)       that the Assistant Director, Community Care assume the role of statutory Director of Adult Social Services;

(iv)       that the transfer of the housing function including the client responsibility for Brent Housing Partnership to the Regeneration and Major Projects department, with effect from 1 June 2011, be noted;

(v)        that the work underway in developing a new integrated delivery model for adult social care and health be noted and that a report with recommendations will come to the Executive in the autumn 2011.

This report seeks approval to award a call-off contract from a framework agreement being let by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (“LBHF”) for the provision of pension administration services. This report details the procedure followed by LBHF in association with Officers from Brent Council in procuring a single supplier framework agreement and recommends to whom the resulting call-off contract under the framework agreement should be awarded.

that approval be given to the award of the call-off contract for the provision of pension administration services to Capita Hartshead for a term of six, with a possible extension of up to two years, commencing 1 October 2011 subject to the proper award of the pensions administration services framework agreement by LBHF.

The report from the Director of Finance and Corporate Services sought approval to award a call-off contract from a framework agreement being let by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (“LBHF”) for the provision of pension administration services. It detailed the procedure followed by LBHF in association with officers from Brent Council in procuring a single supplier framework agreement and recommends to whom the resulting call-off contract under the framework agreement should be awarded. Councillor Butt (Lead Member, Resources) stated that this was an opportunity to achieve substantial savings.

The Executive also had before them an appendix 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:-

that approval be given to the award of the call-off contract for the provision of pension administration services to Capita Hartshead for a term of six, with a possible extension of up to two years, commencing 1 October 2011 subject to the proper award of the pensions administration services framework agreement by LBHF.

None.

None.