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
Media
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Mayor's introduction Additional documents: Minutes: The Mayor referred to conduct at the previous meeting of Council and reminded all Members to abide by the Members’ Code of Conduct when addressing each other. She reported that Councillor Davidson had submitted a letter of apology to herself and the Leader of the Council for any offence caused by what he had said at the meeting. This had been accepted. However, other Members’ behaviour had fallen short of the expected standard and she asked that this improve. |
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Procedural motion Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Warren moved a procedural motion to amend the seating plan and requested a recorded vote. The motion was put to the vote and declared LOST.
Voting was recorded as follows:
FOR: Councillors Carr, Davidson, Shaw and Warren
AGAINST: Councillors Aden, Agha, Allie, Bradley, Butt, Chan, Chohan, Choudhary, Colacicco, Crane, Daly, Denselow, Dixon, Duffy, Eniola, Ezeajughi, Farah, Harrison, Hector, Hirani, Hoda Benn, Hossain, Hylton, Kabir, Kelcher, Long, Mahmood, Marquis, Mashari, McLeish, McLennan, Miller, Moher, J Mitchell Murray, W Mitchell Murray, Nerva, M Patel, R Patel, Pavey, Perrin, Shahzad, Ketan Sheth, Krupa Sheth, Southwood, Stopp, Tatler and Van Kalwala
ABSTENTIONS: The Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillors Colwill, Kansagra and Maurice |
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Procedural motion Additional documents: Minutes: The Chief Whip, Councillor Kabir, moved a procedural motion relating to the debate on item 5.
RESOLVED:
(i) that the Leader of the Council be permitted to speak for up to 15 minutes in presenting the report on the 2016/17 budget and Council Tax to the meeting, setting out the Cabinet’s proposals for the budget, after which the following arrangements be agreed for the purpose of debating and voting upon the 2016/17 Budget and Council Tax:
(a) the Leader of the Conservative Group be permitted to speak for up to 15 minutes, (b) the Leader of the Brent Conservatives be permitted to speak for up to 15 minutes, (c) the Deputy Leader of the Council be permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes, (d) the Chair of the Scrutiny Committee be permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes, (e) a general debate to follow during which the usual rules for debate will apply as set out in Standing Orders 46 and 47 save as set out in this procedural motion, (f) the Leader of the Council be permitted to speak for up to 5 minutes to submit his closing remarks;
(ii) that voting on each Group’s budget proposals shall be taken en bloc. |
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Minutes of the previous meeting PDF 150 KB Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED:-
that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 January 2016 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting subject to minute 1 showing a recorded vote (amendment incorporated). |
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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. Additional documents: Minutes: None declared. |
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Mayor's announcements (including any petitions received) Additional documents: Minutes: The Mayor was delighted to report that she had received her MBE on 4 February at Buckingham Palace from Prince Charles.
The Mayor reminded Members that the Council was celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month with an event open to employees, elected members and residents on 23 February, in the Civic Centre from 12noon to 2pm. The Mayor added that LGBT History Month had been celebrated since 2005 and the theme of the event this year was‘Embracing LGBT Lives in Brent’.
The Mayor announced that the Council was celebrating International Women’s Day on 8 March from 10am - 2pm in the Civic Centre. She stated that International Women’s Day was a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marked a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
The Mayor announced that Mr Colin Hegarty, a maths teacher at Preston Manor School in Wembley, had been included in the top ten shortlist for the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2016. Colin had created his own online videos to teach his pupils and on behalf of the Council she wished him well.
The Mayor reminded Members that Her Majesty the Queen would celebrate her 90th birthday on 21 April. She paid tribute to her significant service to the country. Events across the country – including in Brent – were planned, and she encouraged everyone to get involved to mark this historic milestone.
The Mayor announced that she had recently welcomed students from the Lycée International de Londres who were doing a project on Brent and its services and from the School Council of the Avigdor Hiirsch Torah Temimah Primary School. She reported that both groups had very much enjoyed learning about democracy and the work of the Council.
The Mayor reported that the previous week Mayors from across London and councillors had visited the Swaminarayan Mandir which she had hosted in aid of her charity appeal.
The Mayor announced two dates for Members to note. On 5 April she was hosting a Theatre Evening at the Tricycle Theatre and on 13 May was her End of Year Celebration at the Civic Centre. Full details would follow.
The Mayor took the opportunity to thank everyone who had supported her Mayoral year so far, including those who were taking part in a quiz night the next day. The Mayor was pleased to report that to date she had raised over £6,000 for the Brent Young Carers.
The Mayor reported on Maisie Summerton who had recently celebrated her 100th birthday in Carrick House Nursing Home.
In accordance with Standing Orders a list of current petitions showing progress on dealing with them had been circulated around the chamber. |
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Appointments to committees and outside bodies and appointment of chairs/vice chairs Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED:
That the following appointments be made:
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Budget 2016-17 and Council Tax PDF 283 KB To consider the Council’s budget and level of Council Tax for 2016/17.
A presentational issue has been identified in Appendix J(ii) with expenditure planned for Church End shown incorrectly for Chalkhill. This has been corrected with the revised Appendix. The intention for these funds to go to Church End is clearly shown in the minutes of the January 2016 cabinet meeting, and at Appendix J(i) of the Budget, which is summarised in the main report at paragraph 14.10.
Additional documents:
Minutes: The Council had before it a report on the 2016/17 revenue and capital budgets and proposing an increase in the Council Tax to be levied.
The Leader of the Council, Councillor Butt, addressed the meeting in support of the proposed budget. He referred to the cuts imposed by Government on local government, stating that the effect of this would be to reduce the Council’s budget by half during the period 2010-2018. He stated however that action was being taken to protect the services that local residents cared about. Nevertheless there was a need for honesty in recognizing the scale of cuts faced by the Council and that current levels of services could not be maintained and Council Tax levels not increased. He presented an optimistic view of the future based on everyone in the borough working together to make Brent a better place. Councillor Butt referred to Brent as a growing borough which in turn put pressure on local services, particularly from increasing numbers of young people and elderly people. He outlined how the Council had responded to the Government cuts by adopting values that ensured value for money, protecting vulnerable people and providing for the young. So far it had been possible to hold down Council Tax levels but he explained this was no longer possible if the priorities of residents were to be protected. Councillor Butt outlined the proposals contained in the budget for growth and development. He encouraged everyone to download the Cleaner Brent App to help the Council keep the streets free from rubbish. He expressed confidence that the people of Brent would help the Council get through this difficult time and commended the budget proposals to the meeting.
Councillor Kansagra responded by saying that at every budget meeting the blame was laid on the Government but it was forgotten that the past Labour government had left the economy in a very weak position. He outlined what he regarded as improvements since achieved by the present government such as increased employment levels, cuts in taxes and increases in the state pension. He agreed with the proposal to increase the Council Tax by 2% to help fund Adult Social Care but did not agree with the proposal to further increase the Council Tax by 1.99%. He submitted amendments to the budget designed to delete the proposal for the green bin collection charge and introduce free parking for half hour where appropriate in Brent’s secondary shopping parades.
Councillor Warren presented his alternative budget headlined by a 2.5% cut in the level of Council Tax. He criticized what he regarded as the high level of reserves held by the Council and indicated areas where the Council had not spent the money it had available to it which he felt was unacceptable. He stated that residents did not need to be consulted on improving services and that the money spent on this would be better spent on dealing with potholes in the borough. Councillor Warren’s proposals sought to make savings ... view the full minutes text for item 8. |
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Localism Act 2011- Pay Policy Statements PDF 100 KB The LocalismAct2011 requiresEnglandand Welshlocalauthorities to producea pay policystatementon an annual basis.Thepurposeofthisreportis to inform Full Council ofthearrangements thathavebeen putinplaceinBrentCouncil to meetthe requirementsofthe Act.
Additional documents: Minutes: Members considered the report detailing the arrangements thathad beenput inplaceinBrentCouncil to meetthe requirementsofSection38 (1)oftheLocalismAct2011 Act toproducea pay policystatementon an annual basis.
RESOLVED:
that the draft Pay Policy Statement attached to the report submitted be approved as an accurate and factual representation of the council’s pay arrangements for 2015/16. |
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Future scrutiny structure PDF 101 KB This report proposes a new structure for the operation of the Scrutiny function in Brent. Additional documents: Minutes: Member considered the report proposing a new structure for the operation of the Scrutiny function in Brent.
The proposals were broadly welcomed in recognition of the workload which needed more specialism and to be undertaken by a larger number of councillors. A point was made regarding the allocation of the position of vice chair on each committee.
RESOLVED:
(i) that the new scrutiny structure set out in the report submitted be approved for implementation in May 2016;
(ii) that a review of scrutiny arrangements concerning strategic matters such as budget setting and policy formation be the subject of a follow up report later in 2016;
(iii) that the Chief Legal Officer be authorised to amend the Constitution to record the new scrutiny structure. |
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Members Allowance Scheme PDF 77 KB This report proposes changes to the Members’ Allowance Scheme which sets out the allowances Members are entitled to receive for carrying out their responsibilities. Additional documents:
Minutes: Members considered the report proposing changes to the Members’ Allowance Scheme which sets out the allowances Members are entitled to receive for carrying out their responsibilities.
A view was submitted that at a time when the Council was having to make such severe cuts and increasing the level of Council Tax it was not appropriate to increase the level of members’ allowances.
RESOLVED:
(i) that the Members’ Allowance Scheme attached as Appendix 2 to the report submitted be approved for the financial year 2016/17;
(ii) that the Chief Legal Officer be requested to comply with the statutory requirements to publicise the Council’s Members’ Allowance Scheme. |
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Changes to the operation of Full Council meetings PDF 74 KB This report discusses a number of proposals to change the Council’s Constitution to improve the opportunities for non Cabinet members and members of the public to participate in full Council meetings.
Appendix 1 to the report is to follow. Additional documents: Minutes: Members considered the report which outlined a number of proposals to change the Council’s Constitution to improve the opportunities for non-Cabinet members and members of the public to participate in full Council meetings.
RESOLVED:
that the changes to the Constitution proposed in the report submitted and, if applicable, marked up in Appendix 1 to the report be approved and the Chief Legal Officer be authorised to make consequential changes throughout the Constitution. |
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Changes to the constitution PDF 85 KB This report discusses a number of proposals to change the Council’s Constitution including clarifying and amending the requirements of the Council’s Forward Plan procedures; extending the right of call-in beyond key decisions; increasing contract values and the delegated powers of officers and renaming the Brent Connects Kilburn and Kensal area consultative forum. Additional documents: Minutes: Members considered the report which outlined a number of proposals to change the Council’s Constitution including clarifying and amending the requirements of the Council’s Forward Plan procedures; extending the right of call-in beyond key decisions; increasing contract values and the delegated powers of officers and renaming the Brent Connects Kilburn and Kensal area consultative forum.
RESOLVED:
that the changes to the Constitution proposed in the report submitted be approved and the Chief Legal Officer be authorised to amend the Constitution accordingly.
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Members' absence from meetings PDF 86 KB To consider the absence of a councillor from meetings of the Council since 27 November 2014 Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED:
that Councillor Oladapo’s absence from meetings of the Council since 27 November 2014 be approved on the basis of his ongoing ill-health and that the position be reviewed, if required, at the Annual meeting of Full Council in May 2016. |
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Urgent business At the discretion of the Mayor to consider any urgent business. Additional documents: Minutes: None. |