Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Room 1, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, HA9 9HD. View directions
Contact: Toby Howes, Senior Democratic Services Officer 020 8937 1307, Email: toby.howes@brent.gov.uk
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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 the agenda. Minutes: None declared. |
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Minutes of the last meeting held on 8 June 2011 PDF 129 KB The minutes are attached. Minutes: RESOLVED:-
that the minutes of the last meeting held on 8 June 2011 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting. |
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Matters Arising Minutes: None. |
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Call-in of Executive decisions from the meeting of the Executive held on 18 July 2011 Decisions made by the Executive on 18 July 2011 in respect of the following reports were called-in for consideration by the Call In Overview and Scrutiny Committee in accordance with Standing Orders 6 (b) and 18. Minutes: Decisions made by the Executive on 18 July 2011 in respect of the reports referred to in 4 a) and 4 b) below were called in for consideration by councillors for these to be considered by the Call In Overview and Scrutiny Committee in accordance with Standing Orders 6 (b) and 18. |
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Additional street cleansing savings PDF 143 KB The reasons for the call in are:-
1. To allow public discussion and scrutiny of these proposals, which have not been subject to a public consultation (either these new proposals, or the original proposals to reduce street cleansing services), allowing alternative proposals to be developed.
2. To further consider the risk associated with on-going negotiations with Veolia and the possibility of their failure which may necessitate further reductions in the street cleansing service.
Suggested action for the Call in Overview and Scrutiny Committee to take:-
1. To consider whether alternative options to the single set of proposals put before the Executive could be developed.
2. For the Executive to consult on the proposed changes to Street Cleansing Services to ensure adequate democratic oversight has been carried out.
The Executive report is attached.
The Lead Member and Lead Officer are invited to the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.
Minutes: The reasons for the call in were:-
1. To allow public discussion and scrutiny of these proposals, which have not been subject to a public consultation (either these new proposals, or the original proposals to reduce street cleansing services), allowing alternative proposals to be developed.
2. To further consider the risk associated with on-going negotiations with Veolia and the possibility of their failure which may necessitate further reductions in the street cleansing service.
Suggested action for the Call in Overview and Scrutiny Committee to take:-
1. To consider whether alternative options to the single set of proposals put before the Executive could be developed.
2. For the Executive to consult on the proposed changes to Street Cleansing Services to ensure adequate democratic oversight has been carried out.
Councillor Lorber referred to the reasons for the call in of this item as set out in the agenda and expressed concern that the proposals represented the second reduction in the street cleaning budget this year and that this would impact upon the ability to maintain clean streets. He felt it was desirable to continue with the present street cleansing arrangements and he enquired whether any alternative options had been considered.
Councillor Powney (Lead Member for Environment and Neighbourhoods) was then invited to respond to the stated reasons for call in. Councillor Powney began by explaining that the savings included in the proposals were part of the council’s wider savings target of £100m in the next four years. He stated that there had been considerable public discussion and scrutiny of the proposals and he did not think there was a serious risk to securing a desirable agreement with the contractor, Veolia. Councillor Powney suggested that it would be both imprudent and unrealistic to enter into further public consultation whilst negotiations with Veolia were ongoing. Furthermore, reopening consultation would lengthen these negotiations and delay the savings the council was looking to make.
During discussion by Members, Councillor Lorber commented that there had been extensive consultation prior to the waste management and street cleansing contract agreed in 2007 and the views expressed by the residents had influenced the nature of the contract. He suggested that the present proposals reversed many initiatives that residents had supported. Clarification was sought with regard to the change in frequency of sweeps as set out in item 3.3 of the report and what streets were classified as Zone 5 and why these changes were not going to be introduced at the same time as the proposed changes as set out in 3.10 of the report. It was queried what the implications would be in respect of the reduced weekend day service. Councillor Lorber asked what steps would be taken to ensure that the regular sweeps would include cleaning away leaf fall. Officers were asked to comment if there were any risk in the proposals in terms of not meeting duties with regard to the Environmental Act and associated legislation and what were the implications if reports from Keep Britain Tidy ... view the full minutes text for item 4a |
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Future funding of an events programme PDF 105 KB The reasons for the call in are:-
1. To test fully the argument that Equalities legislation requires the cessation of all “cultural/faith based” events.
2. Because many of the “cultural/faith-based” events are inclusive and, in practice cross-community.
Suggested action for the Call In Overview and Scrutiny Committee to take:- 1. To consider the option of providing greater support to events delivered by the local community by diverting resources from large-scale events organised directly by the council.
2. To take full account of the consultation responses and views of the local community.
3. To consider advice on relevant Equalities duties and legislation
The Executive report is attached. Appendices to the report are circulated separately for Members.
The Lead Member and Lead Officer are invited to the meeting to respond to Members’ questions. Additional documents: Minutes: The reasons for the call in were:-
1. To test fully the argument that Equality legislation requires the cessation of all “cultural/faith based” events.
2. Because many of the “cultural/faith-based” events are inclusive and, in practice cross-community.
Suggested action for the Call In Overview and Scrutiny Committee to take:- 1. To consider the option of providing greater support to events delivered by the local community by diverting resources from large-scale events organised directly by the council.
2. To take full account of the consultation responses and views of the local community.
3. To consider advice on relevant Equality duties and legislation.
Councillor Lorber referred Members to the reasons for the call in of this item as set out in the agenda. He felt that the original intention of the proposals to make financial savings was now being justified on grounds of equality legislation which he questioned. In addition, he sought further explanation as to what defined a faith based event, as some of these were inclusive to the whole community. Councillor Lorber questioned whether holding council corporate events was the best approach in holding events and suggested that local organisations were better placed to undertake this as they had more experience and expertise in organising such events and that funds would be better used by providing support to these organisations.
AshwinbhaiGaloria, Secretary of Brent Hindu Council, was invited to address the committee by the Chair. Ashwinbhai Galoria began by stating that Brent was renowned both nationally and internationally for its Navratri celebrations and was the largest and best celebration of its kind in the UK. In acknowledging that the Navratri grant would be maintained for this year only, he requested that the council work with Brent Hindu Council in relation to equality legislation and seek to maintain the grant in future years. Members heard that the Navratri festival was inclusive of all the community and all residents had been invited to participate since the first festival held in Brent some 30 years ago.
Councillor Jones (Lead Member for Customers and Citizens) was invited by the Chair to reply to the initial points raised. Councillor Jones advised that the principal reasons behind the decisions remained because of the need to make financial savings and transitional arrangements offering a reduced amount of events were in place for events this year, whilst a new inclusive programme was intended for next year. Members heard that it was also intended that an Events and Marketing Team be set up to advice and support local organisations on events in future years. Councillor Jones explained that the report had initially been deferred as it needed to take into account changes in respect of the Equality Act 2010 which had come into effect on 5 April 2011. In respect of the consultation, a number of various views had been expressed and there had been some comments made that some residents felt that they did not feel included in some events such as Navratri, whilst other ... view the full minutes text for item 4b |
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The Executive list of decisions for the meeting that took place on 18 July 2011 PDF 107 KB The list of decisions that took place on 18 July 2011 is attached for information. Minutes: RESOLVED:-
that the Executive list of decisions for the meeting that took place on 18 July 2011 be noted. |
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Date of next meeting The next meeting of the Call-In Overview and Scrutiny Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, 7 September 2011 at 7.30 pm and will take place in the event of there being any call ins of decisions made by the Executive on 17 August 2011. Minutes: It was noted that the next meeting of the Call In Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled for Wednesday, 7 September 2011 at 7.30 pm, however it would only take place in the event of there being any call ins of decisions made by the Executive on 17 August 2011. |
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Any other urgent business Notice of items 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. Minutes: None. |
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Exclusion of press and public The following appendices to the report in item 5 (a) on the agenda are not for publication as they relate to the following category of exempt information as specified in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 namely:
Appendix 1 – “Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).”
Appendix 3 - “Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings”. Minutes: Members noted the information contained in the appendix to the additional street cleansing savings report with regard to item 4.1 was not for publication as it contained exempt information as specified in Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. |