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 PDF 155 KB Minutes: RESOLVED:-
that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 November 2013 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting. |
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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. Minutes: None declared. |
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Mayor's announcements (including any petitions received) Minutes: The Mayor wished everyone a Happy New Year, and congratulated those people living in the Borough who were honoured in the New Year’s Honours list. He made specific mention of Mr Norman Mitchell - founder, chair and volunteer of the West Indian Senior Citizens Organisation - for being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for ‘Services to Older People in London’.
The Mayor reported on London’s New Year’s Day Parade, which despite the weather, was a fantastic event attended by nearly half a million people. The Borough was awarded 5th place in the parade and the prize of £3,000 had gone to his charity. A formal presentation would be taking place sometime in March.
The Mayor congratulated Councillors Ruth Moher, Jim Moher and Mitchell Murray who, like himself, had recently become grandparents.
The Mayor reminded colleagues of the Brent Holocaust Memorial taking place on 27 January, 6-8 pm at the Civic Centre. This was an opportunity to remember those who lost their lives during the Holocaust and those affected by genocide all over the world. It was a non-faith event which was open to all to attend. The national theme for this year was the forced "journeys" that people had to make to escape fear, persecution or death. The Mayor added that everyone could play a part in creating a safe environment and do what they could to get to know and support their communities.
The Mayor stated that everyone would be aware that former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela had passed away on 5 December 2013. The Mayor read to the meeting a resolution honouring Nelson Mandela, which Councillor Bacchus moved. The Mayor gave an update on his charity work: - he thanked people for supporting his Christmas Party on 13 December in the Grand Hall. The turnout had been fantastic and £1,115 was raised from the raffle on the night - he was running in the London Marathon on 13 April and was in the process of setting up a ‘Just Giving’ account and would appreciate everyone’s support - his end of year party would take place on Friday 9 May - his Thanksgiving Service would take place on Sunday 1 June at St Catherine’s Church - various events were in the process of being organised.
The Mayor stated that in accordance with Standing Orders a list of current petitions showing progress on dealing with them had been circulated around the chamber.
RESOLVED:
(i) that Brent Council affirms that Nelson Mandela was the inspirational figure of our age; he taught us the true meaning of courage, determination, and reconciliation; his magnanimity and strength of spirit will inspire for generations to come;
(ii) that the Council pays tribute to the many thousands of people – in South Africa and across the world – who supported and participated in the campaign against Apartheid; it was noteworthy that Mandela regarded the UK as the second headquarters of the movement against the evil regime; ... view the full minutes text for item 3. |
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Appointments to committees and outside bodies and appointment of chairs/vice chairs Minutes: Following Councillor Kataria joining the Liberal Democrat Group, the political balance of the committees he served on needed to be restored.
RESOLVED:
(i) that the following appointments be made: · Councillor Adeyeye to replace Councillor Kataria on Planning Committee · Councillor Daly to replace Councillor Adeyeye as Councillor Ketan Sheth's 2nd alternate on Planning Committee · Councillor Harrison to replace Councillor Kataria as vice chair on Budget and Finance Overview and Scrutiny Committee · Councillor Hector to be 1st alternate to Councillor Harrison on Budget and Finance Overview and Scrutiny Committee · Councillor Naheerathan to be 2nd alternate to Councillor Harrison on Budget and Finance Overview and Scrutiny Committee
(ii) that the following additional appointments be made:
· Councillor Kataria to replace Councillor Brown as 1st alternate to Councillor CJ Patel on Planning Committee · Councillor Brown to replace Councillor Lorber as 2nd alternate to Councillor CJ Patel on Planning Committee · Councillor Sneddon to be 2nd alternate to Councillor Hopkins on Budget and Finance Overview and Scrutiny Committee · Councillor Matthews to replace Councillor Brown as 2nd alternate to Councillor Ashraf on Call-in Overview and Scrutiny Committee · Councillor Brown to replace Councillor Matthews as 1st alternate to Councillor Lorber on Call-in Overview and Scrutiny Committee · Councillor Cheese to be 2nd alternate to Councillor Matthews on Children and Young Persons Overview and Scrutiny Committee · Councillor Kataria to replace Councillor CJ Patel as a member of Children and Young Persons Overview and Scrutiny Committee · Councillor Hashmi to replace Councillor Green as 2nd alternate to Councillor Kataria on Children and Young Persons Overview and Scrutiny Committee · Councillor Cheese to be 2nd alternate to Councillor Leaman on Health Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Committee · Councillor Hopkins to be 1st alternate to Councillor Lorber on One Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee · Councillor Brown to replace Councillor Hopkins as 2nd alternate to Councillor Lorber on One Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee · Councillor Cheese to be appointed to Partnership and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee to fill the vacancy · Councillor Cheese to be 1st alternate to Councillor Sneddon on Employees Joint Consultative Committee |
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Report from the Leader or members of the Executive To receive reports from the Leader or members of the Executive in accordance with Standing Order 42. Minutes: Councillor Butt stated that over the holiday period he had met many local residents who were struggling with the cost of living crisis; food prices were rising, energy bills were going up, rents were going up, fares had been increased and combined with this was the continuing unprecedented cuts to local government funding. He stated that it was clear that there would be difficult times ahead. However, the Executive was determined to create new jobs and fuel growth within the borough. At the next meeting of Full Council a budget would be submitted which would propose a £100M school expansion programme. There would also be a proposal to build more homes. Consultation on the budget was still open for further contributions.
Councillor J Moher reported that the public realm contract had recently been concluded which put £6M into street sweeping providing a dedicated street cleaner within every ward to achieve a Grade A standard of cleaning. This would involve taking on an additional 28 new street cleaners. It also included a major new initiative against fly tipping.
Councillor McLennan stated that consultation was being undertaken with the private rented sector to get views on introducing additional licensing requirements for houses in multiple occupation in an effort to drive up standards and remove rogue landlords from the borough. She asked councillors to encourage private sector tenants to take part in the consultation and stressed that the Council was not against good landlords but wanted to see standards improved.
Councillor A Choudry reported on the demonstration that took place on 18 January 2014 in Cricklewood. Those representing United against Facism arrived from about 1.30pm and leafleted local people. Members of the Britain First movement arrived at about 2:30pm and marched along Cricklewood Broadway. The scale of the demonstration was small and there were no arrests.
Councillor Mashari reminded councillors that at the end of 2013 the Council had launched a campaign against fly tippers. It targeted known places for fly tipping and the message arising was clear that fly tipping was a crime and anyone found guilty of it would be fined, named and shamed. The next stage of the campaign would be to check the adequacy of commercial waste contracts and in a third phase there would be targeted work with local shopkeepers and landlords. Councillor Mashari also reported that a decision had been taken to suspend fines for overdue library books for under 18 year olds to further encourage young people to read and visit the libraries. She added that customer satisfaction with the library service continued to rise. Councillor Mashari remarked on the excellent work undertaken by officers in the Customer and Business Protection section carrying out enforcement against shisha cafes breaching smoking laws and how the smoking of shisha had been shown to be just as or more dangerous to health than cigarettes. |
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Questions from the Opposition and other Non- Executive Members Questions will be put to the Executive Minutes: Councillor Hopkins asked if it was felt to be appropriate for long serving staff who did not face any allegations of misconduct to be asked to collect their belongings and leave the building within an hour of being made redundant. Councillor Butt replied that the question overlooked that the Council was being forced by the Government to make many cuts amounting to £100M. It was not appropriate for him to comment on staffing issues as they were matters for management and staff had access to trade union advice and could use the policies and procedures put in place by the Council to deal with such matters. Councillor Hopkins asked how, if someone was removed from the building, they were supposed to resort to using what she considered to be the Council’s failing HR policies. She could not see how funding cuts could be the cause of treating people poorly. She was concerned by what she was hearing about staff restructuring involving TUPE and new contracts. Front line staff were being cut back while the PR department was being expanded. She felt some existing staff were being treated poorly.
Councillor Harrison asked how many children in the borough had yet to be offered a school place. Councillor Pavey replied by referring to reports in the press in 2013 that over 600 children in Brent did not have a school place. He stated this was a completely unacceptable situation and thanks to the hard work of the Children and Families Department and the schools the situation had much improved. Twenty nine new forms of entry had been opened and as a result only 33 children were still without a school place. He acknowledged this was still too high a number but blamed it on underfunding by Government and the refusal by Government to allow local authorities to open new schools. He had written to the borough’s three MPs to raise this matter and thanked Barry Gardiner and Glenda Jackson for their replies; he had not yet received a reply from Sarah Teather. Councillor Pavey submitted that young people had been hit hard by the actions of the Government but the Council was doing its utmost to ensure every child in the borough received the best possible education. Councillor Harrison responded by saying that there would continue to be a shortage of school places and that plans were still needed to provide more places.
Councillor HB Patel submitted that within all the talk about cuts, one of the Council’s main sources of income should be from the disposal of Brent Town Hall. He had twice written asking what price had been obtained from the disposal of the Town Hall without reply and therefore asked again what the sale price for the town hall was. Councillor Crane replied that he did not have the information to hand but would write to Councillor Patel and all other councillors with the information. Councillor Patel wondered how long it would take to get the response and was ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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Proposed Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2013/14 PDF 163 KB This report sets out:
A recommended local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2014/15 based upon the experience from the first year of the local scheme, the outcomes from this year’s consultation process and continuing to achieve a financially neutral position.
The findings of the consultation process which took place between 11 November 2013 and 13 December 2013.
The financial and equality impacts of the recommended revised local Council Tax Support scheme for Brent residents.
Appendix A – Equalities Impact Assessment to follow. Additional documents:
Minutes: Councillor Lorber moved a suspension of standing orders to allow officers to introduce the report given its complexity, length and the fact that councillors had not previously had the chance to ask questions on it. This was put to the vote and declared LOST.
The Mayor made it clear that officers were present in the room who could answer questions on the report if this was felt to be necessary.
Councillor Butt introduced the report by referring back to the decision of the Council in December 2012 to adopt a two year scheme which nevertheless had to be put before Full Council each year. The scheme had met its objectives in the first year and the opportunity was now being taken to introduce an amendment to the scheme that would have the effect of protecting more people from having to pay Council Tax. Consultation had been carried out in November and December 2013 and all the responses received had been addressed as set out in the report. He pointed out that one proposal put forward by Brent Housing Action would have cost the Council £3.6M which made it unviable.
Councillor Lorber asked if it was correct that none of the contingency sum of £800,000 built into the scheme had so far been required. In reply it was explained that the scheme was intend as a two year scheme and costed accordingly to take account of the growth in claim numbers that might be experienced in both the first and second years.
At 8:10pm the Mayor adjourned the meeting due to the continuing disruption caused to the meeting by members of the public.
After a delay of 15 minutes, the Mayor announced that the meeting would be reconvened in the Grand Hall thereby allowing the removal of the disruptive members of the public from the Civic Centre.
At 8:55 the meeting reconvened.
Procedural motion
RESOLVED:
that standing order 47(f) relating to the seating arrangements be suspended for the remainder of the meeting.
Discussion on the proposed local Council Tax support scheme for 2014/15 continued.
Councillor Kansagra referred to the motion he would later move under summons item 9. He stated that the Council could have absorbed the costs of reducing charges imposed on the poorest residents and was using the cuts to local government funding as an excuse. A view was submitted that the Council should support incentives to work and any benefits from surplus monies should be given back to residents. Councillor Lorber moved an amendment to the scheme. He argued that one year ago the figures used to create the scheme had been questioned and it could now been seen that the scheme had been tougher on people than it needed to be. He wanted to see the savings level remain at £16,000, those genuinely seeking work given 12 months grace and the minimum contribution rate set at 15%. The resulting costs would be met by the difference in the budget not being put into reserves. In response Councillor ... view the full minutes text for item 7. |
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Reports from the Chairs of Overview and Scrutiny Committees PDF 82 KB To receive reports from the Chairs of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees in accordance with Standing Order 41. Minutes: Councillor Daly referred to the report circulated with the summons and was pleased to be able to present it to Full Council.
NOTED |
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Motions To debate any motions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 45. |
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Food banks Minutes: Councillor Denselow moved the motion circulated in his name. He applauded the staff and volunteers working at food banks. He submitted that cuts to social safety nets had gone too far and children were being put into poverty. Half a million people were now visiting food banks and consideration needed to be given to how they could be better supported. In support it was claimed that ordinary people were facing very challenging circumstances and were now having to turn to food banks. It was important that they were treated with dignity and respect. Whilst supporting food banks the motion was criticised for politicising the issue. It was submitted that other organisations that helped people cook properly for themselves should also be supported and that the issue of food wastage by retailers needed to be tackled. The Trussell Trust was thanked for the work it did to support food banks but a point of view was put that it was not the fault of the Government that had led to the increased use of food banks but that a long term solution was needed to fill gaps in the welfare system.
The motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.
RESOLVED
(i) that Brent Council unreservedly condemns the behaviour of the MPs representing the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Government who jeered their way through and walked out of the special parliamentary debate on the increasing reliance of UK citizens on food banks held in the House of Commons on the 18th December 2013;
(ii) that the Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan-Smith, who exited this debate after just one hour, and Minister for Food, Owen Paterson – who did not attend it at all – be invited to witness first-hand the urgent and growing need being met by food banks in Brent; with councillors welcoming the opportunity to demonstrate to Ministers the fantastic service provided by food banks to the many hard-working parents in the borough who would otherwise have to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table;
(iii) that the proliferation of food banks throughout the world’s seventh richest country be recognised as a damning indictment of the Government’s failed economic policies, which are forcing Brent families to rely on food banks to get by as energy bills, rents and transport fares continue to rise;
(iv) that continued support be provided to local food banks by helping these organisations to find suitable facilities; providing them with financial advice; and by building and strengthening referral pathways to community and voluntary sector institutions dedicated to combatting poverty, such as credit unions;
(v) that thanks be extended to the staff and volunteers – including councillors from all parties and council staff – who support local food banks and to the many Brent residents who generously donate food to these organisations, or who have signed the petition calling for an inquiry into the growing dependence on food aid; the petition thus far attracting over 150,000 signatures nationwide;
(vi) that the Coalition ... view the full minutes text for item 9a |
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Re-open Brent's closed libraries Minutes: Councillor Lorber moved the motion circulated in his and Councillors Cheese and Hopkins’ names by stating that while some of the old library buildings had been taken out of wider community use, there were still four buildings that could be used to provide community and library facilities. These could all provide places of study for young people who were promised replacement facilities but none had been provided. Councillor Lorber outlined the actions needed to bring this about. In support of the motion it was added that the pop up library at Kensal Rise had proved successful and had brought communities together. It was submitted that local people wanted their local libraries back and the provision of the new library in the Civic Centre was not accessible to many people. Despite the claims made about costs, it was argued that the Council still found money to spend on other things that could have been used to keep the libraries open. In response it was felt that the sheer scale of the cuts being forced on to the Council was being ignored. To put it in perspective the cuts required in the next year amounted to the entire Environment and Neighbourhoods budget and yet the motion promised greater spending on services. All over the country services were under threat, including libraries. Efforts were already being made to get community libraries up and running by working with library campaigners.
The motion was put to the vote and declared LOST.
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Council Tax benefit Minutes: Councillor Colwill moved the motion circulated in Councillor Kansagra’s name stating that the new Council Tax scheme imposed a requirement on people to pay 20% Council Tax when previously they were exempt from paying. This amounted to an average of £5 per week and was amongst the highest charge in London. Many Conservative councils were not charging anything. Councillor Colwill pointed out that this had resulted in the Council serving more than 3,300 notices for non-payment and called on the Council to reduce the charges being imposed on the borough’s poorest residents and do more to identify alternative savings. Councillor Colwill asked a list of questions concerning those that had been summoned for non-payment. In response, the figure of £5 per week was disputed and it was submitted that many Conservative councils had the benefit of huge reserves that mitigated the risk. A view was expressed that the motion was hypocritical and misleading and that it took no account of the cuts the Council faced, the cuts to policing, hospital closures, the 44,000 people affected by Universal Credit, further cuts imposed on the welfare budget all at a time when tax cuts were given to the wealthy. Councillor Colwill voiced his objection to comments made on the motion and his contribution. In support of the motion it was argued that there was no necessity to introduce a 20% charge and the poor people of the borough were being made to suffer. It was submitted that the scheme should have been subject to proper scrutiny which would have allowed for it to be properly reviewed, as it was it was an inadequate scheme.
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. |