Agenda and minutes
Venue: Conference Hall - Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ. View directions
Contact: Peter Goss, Democratic Services Manager 020 8937 1353, Email: peter.goss@brent.gov.uk
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Minutes of the previous meeting Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Warren moved an amendment to minute 6 – Deputations – which was put to the vote and declared LOST.
RESOLVED:-
that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 8 September 2014 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting. #this minute reads as amended by the meeting on 8 December 2014. |
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Declarations of personal and prejudicial interests Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, any relevant personal and prejudicial interests and discloseable pecuniary interest in any matter to be considered at this meeting. Minutes: None declared. |
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Procedural motion Minutes: Councillor Kabir moved a procedural motion.
RESOLVED:
that in respect of Summons items 7, 1st Reading of the 2015/16 – 2018/19 budget:
· the Leader be permitted up to 10 minutes in which to present the report
· the Leader of the Conservative Group be permitted up to 10 minutes to debate the item
· the Deputy Leader be permitted up to 10 minutes to debate the item
· a general debate to follow, in accordance with Standing Order 46 (each member called having up to 3 minutes)
· the Leader be invited to respond to the debate for up to 5 minutes. |
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Mayor's announcements (including any petitions received) Minutes: The Mayor congratulated all Brent Staff who had received an award at the Staff Awards ceremony on 27 November.
The Mayor referred to his charity Christmas party which had been a huge success. He thanked all fellow councillors who had supported the event and was delighted to announce that in excess of £3,000 had been raised.
The Mayor congratulated Councillor Jean Hossain who had recently celebrated her 80th birthday.
The Mayor wished everyone a lovely Christmas and all the very best for a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
The Mayor stated that, in accordance with Standing Orders, a list of current petitions showing progress on dealing with them had been tabled. |
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Appointments to committees and outside bodies and appointment of chairs/vice chairs Minutes: RESOLVED:
that the following appointments be made:
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Report from the Leader or members of the Cabinet PDF 59 KB To receive reports from the Leader or members of the Cabinet in accordance with Standing Order 38. Minutes: The Leader invited his colleagues to report on matters which were the responsibility of the Cabinet.
Councillor Moher (Lead Member for Children and Young People) reported on the latest position regarding school places. She explained that at the beginning of the school summer holidays all children had been allocated a school place. However, during the course of the holidays more children had moved into the borough resulting in 155 children not having a school place. So far 93 had been made an offer with 56 rejecting the offer they had been made. The biggest pressure was on years 5 and 6 and from the north of the borough. A fourth form of entry was due to be opened at Wembley Primary School (as amended by meeting on 8 December 2014). Councillor Moher referred to the very good exam results achieved by Brent schools. Councillor Moher also reported on the problem of the recruitment and retention of social workers and how hard it was to reduce their caseload.
Councillor Hirani (Lead Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing) referred to the public health annual report that had been published and presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board. Levels of mortality were better than might be expected with the difference in life expectancy between the rich and the poor reducing. Dealing with dementia still posed a significant challenge. Teenage pregnancy levels were down significantly but there remained a lot more that could be done to reduce the levels of obesity and diabetes. Cancer remained the main cause of death before age 75 and work was being undertaken on combatting tobacco use including running a stop chewing campaign.
Councillor Mashari (Lead Member for Employment and Skills) reported on the success of Small Business Saturday held on 7 December. She congratulated the five businesses which won the "Think Brent, Celebrate Local" competition. She stated that the Council was committed to working in close partnership with small businesses. Councillor Mashari referred to the work being done to champion the paying of the London Living Wage, including offering rebates on business rates to companies paying the living wage.
Councillor McLennan (Lead Member for Regeneration and Housing) referred to the large number of people who visited her surgery about their housing situation. The number of people placed in bed and breakfast had increased to 700 as the Council tried to accommodate people in the borough. She reported on the introduction on 1 November of selective landlord licensing. She was pleased that Estate Agents appeared to be well aware of the new requirements and were advising landlords accordingly. This would help ensure that people were living in dwellings that were fit for purpose. Enforcement of the licence requirements would begin on 1 January 2015. Councillor Mashari reported that the Council had submitted applications to the Department of Communities and Local Government and the Greater London Authority for two housing zones in Alperton and Wembley and stressed the challenge facing the Council in trying to provide adequate housing ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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Deputations To hear any deputations received from members of the public in accordance with standing order 39. No requests for a deputation to this meeting have been received. Minutes: None submitted. |
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First reading debate on the 2015/16 - 2018/19 budget PDF 138 KB This report meets the requirement in Standing Order 24(b) as set out in Part 3 of the Constitution.
Final decisions on the budget and the level of Council tax for 2015/16 will be made at Full Council on 2 March 2015. Minutes: Councillor Butt referred to the outcome of the local elections returning a Labour Administration and the actions of the present Government in requiring the Council to cut £54M from its budget in addition to the £80M already cut. He put forward a two year budget which he stated would be influenced by the outcome of the largest consultation carried out by the Council on a borough plan which would reflect local priorities. Work was being undertaken to engage with the Council’s partners and the capital programme would focus on the provision of school places and the supply of housing. In the circumstances he stated that local organisations would have to learn to be self sufficient but that the Council would support them the best it could. The Council would need to be ever more innovative and examine carefully the potential for charging. Councillor Butt acknowledged that it would be difficult for residents and staff and stated that the cuts threatened the most vulnerable. The budget would present challenges for all both within the Council and outside.
Councillor Kansagra sought to remind councillors that the country’s present economic position was due to the previous Labour government. He stated that the present government had invested more in the NHS, schools and housing. He acknowledged that the cuts were hitting local government the hardest but submitted that it had only gone to show how much wastage there had previously been. He commented that there was no indication of where the Administration was minded to make the cuts. Councillor Kansagra felt that it was a priority to assist small businesses in the borough by introducing free parking for the first half hour. Shopkeepers around Wembley Stadium complained that traffic diversions on event days meant they were not getting the custom and this needed to be looked into. The pavements and roads in the borough were in a poor condition and there needed to be greater effort made to pursue developers and the utility companies that damaged them. Councillor Kansagra submitted that the savings the Council had so far made were largely due to the One Council programme which the previous Lib Dem/Conservative Administration had introduced. Finally he felt that the changes to top management had led to the Council paying out too much money on departure costs.
Councillor Pavey stated that the Government had had the choice between promoting growth or making cuts and made the wrong choice. It had promised to eliminate the deficit within a single Parliament but the Council was being made to make cuts for two years beyond. If the Government economic strategy had worked there would not be a need for such cuts. There were now record levels of youth unemployment and reductions in real wage levels. He referred to Councillor Kansagra’s contribution and stated that the Council needed to save £54M not spend more. He presumed that he was happy with cuts to all the other services not mentioned. Councillor Pavey stated that a budget could have simply ... view the full minutes text for item 8. |
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Report from the Chair Scrutiny Committee PDF 89 KB To receive a report from the Chair of the Scrutiny Committees in accordance with Standing Order 41. Additional documents: Minutes: The report before members provided a summary of the work of the council’s Scrutiny Committee in accordance with Standing Order 14. It covered the period September to November 2014. During this period the Scrutiny Committee had been focused on consolidating its role, further developing its work programme and taking forward four time limited task groups.
RESOLVED:
that the report be noted. |
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2014/15 Mid-Year Treasury Report This report updates Members on treasury activity during the 2014/15 financial year. Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED:
that the 2014/15 mid-year Treasury report, providing an update on treasury activity during the 2014/15 financial year, as submitted to the Audit Committee and the Cabinet, be received. |
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Motions To debate the motions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 45. |
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Government cuts Minutes: Councillor Kelcher moved the motion circulated in his name. He stated that political choices were being made on the scale of public sector cuts being imposed. He referred to the high satisfaction rating of the NHS in 2010 and yet the Government had chosen to re-organise it and the imposition of the ‘bedroom’ tax which he submitted had hit the most vulnerable. He stated that resources were being diverted from poorer areas to better off areas, that Brent residents would be unlikely to vote Conservative given the unfairness of the cuts being made and that an incoming Labour government would seek to address the present unfair distribution of resources.
Councillor Warren referred to public spending being in surplus in 1997 only for it to be in deficit by £162B by 2010. He stated he had not heard what an incoming Labour government would do and that the answer to a problem was not always to spend more money on it; this showed a resistance to change.
Councillor Daly made reference to the cases of two residents, one who was referred to Northwick Park hospital but had to wait a long time for an appointment, and the other who had to go to A&E at Northwick Park hospital and had to wait a long time. She submitted that local residents were suffering and it was getting worse.
The motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.
RESOLVED:
(i) that Brent Council believes that the severe depth of cuts to local government, imposed by the current coalition Government, has been chosen by Conservatives and Liberal Democrats together in office;
(ii) we note that:
• the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats could have chosen not to cut the top rate of tax for those earning more than £150,000 per year – but they did
• the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats could have chosen not to force through an expensive, unwanted and unnecessary reorganisation of the NHS – but they did
• the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats could have chosen not to create a costly chaos in the social security system through the botched roll out of Universal Credit – but they did;
(iii) that the price of these decisions is not being paid by Government ministers in Westminster but by working families in Brent, who must sacrifice their local services to fund tax cuts for the richest and the Conservatives’ pet projects;
(iv) that Brent Council promises never to put rigid dogma ahead of the hopes and aspirations of the families of Brent, and for their interests to always be our guiding principle.
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Health Services in Brent Minutes: Councillor Kansagra introduced the motion circulated in his and Councillors Colwill and BM Patel’s names. He stated that generally the health services in Brent had improved but problems remained with the provision of A&E despite assurances given to the Scrutiny Committee. He felt the Council needed to keep this matter under review and work in partnership with Northwick Park Hospital to bring about improvements.
Councillor Warren submitted that the Council needed to be a critical friend of Northwick Park hospital. He referred to the independent commission, chaired by Michael Mansfield QC, established by Brent Council along with three other local councils in west London to look at the impact local closures were having, and at the implications of further hospital reorganisation proposals. He felt this was neither independent or that money needed to be spent on it.
Councillor Hirani acknowledged the scale of the issue and the concern the Council had previously expressed over the impact of closing the A&E unit at Central Middlesex hospital. He referred to the limited role the Council had in this matter and how Government actions led to unaccountable decisions being taken on matters such as this. Councillor Hirani moved an amendment to the motion. Councilor Kansagra indicated he was prepared to accept the amendment subject to the deletion of part of it which Councillor Hirani accepted.
The motion, as amended, was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.
RESOLVED:
(i) to note the concerns expressed by the Council regarding the present state of the Health Service in the Borough, especially since the recent closure of the A&E at Central Middlesex hospital which has resulted in an increased demand at Northwick Park hospital for accident and emergency services;
(ii) that the Cabinet be called on to explain exactly what safeguards have been put in place to ensure that their fears never become reality and for reassurance that council officers are in debate when possible with the NHS and the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) on the situation and will keep the Council updated on progress;
(iii) that the Council will work to protect the interests of Brent residents in the NHS.
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Employment tribunal Minutes: Councillor Warren moved the motion circulated in his and Councillors Davidson and Shaw’s names which sought alternative actions in response to the Council losing a recent Employment Tribunal case. He asked why the Council had spent money on appealing the outcome and sought re-assurance that no further avenues for appeal would be pursued. He was dismissive of the inquiry led by Councillor Pavey and felt the officers responsible should be held to account. He asked how staff could believe they would be treated fairly.
In response, Councillor Butt stated that the Council remained committed to supporting the diversity of its staff. He referred to the Council being one of the few councils across the country which had attained the silver standard for Investors in People. The Councillor Pavey led inquiry would be reporting to the General Purposes Committee early in the New Year and Councillor Butt explained that the outcome would be open to discussion within the Council and with the Council’s partner agencies.
The motion was put to the vote and declared LOST.
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Urgent business At the discretion of the Mayor to consider any urgent business. Minutes: None. |