Agenda and minutes
Venue: Boardrooms 3-5 - Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ. View directions
Contact: Anne Reid, Democratic Services 020 8937 1359, Email: anne.reid@brent.gov.uk
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Declarations of 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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Deputations Minutes: None. |
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Minutes of the previous meeting PDF 98 KB Minutes: RESOLVED:
that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 9 September 2015 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting. |
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Matters arising Minutes: None. |
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Minutes: The committee noted that replies had been received to the five questions asked and Tony Kennedy (Head of Transportation) undertook to respond to the outstanding transport questions by the following day. |
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Parking Strategy 2015 PDF 697 KB The parking strategy is attached. A covering report from the Chief Operating Officer covering the background and future development of the strategy will follow. Additional documents: Minutes: The Lead Member, Environment, Councillor Southwood introduced the 2015 Parking Strategy and accompanying report which was due to be considered by the Cabinet at the meeting on 16 November 2015. Councillor Southwood indicated that the strategy brought together current policy to bring clarity to issues and be a reference document. The report asked for reconfirmation of the hierarchy of priorities for on-street parking, a policy for the service and the priorities going forward, particularly, Councillor Southwood reminded, given the council’s current financial position. Gavin Moore (Head of Parking and Lighting) added that many changes had been made since the 2006 Parking and Enforcement Plan and the strategy was an opportunity to identify future direction.
Members were invited to make observations on the strategy. It was suggested that the strategy could include more on changes that could made in the future, the impact of parking restrictions on businesses and how to amend CPZs. Also raised was the impact of planning permission for developments without parking spaces in the south of the borough and the amount of income from parking enforcement. Also questioned was who was the focus of the council’s vision: residents or visitors. Enforcement of traffic schemes and CPZs was also raised. A member suggested a one hour parking restriction in a specific location could stop all day commuter parking and assist emergency vehicle access. Questions were raised on parking enforcement outside schools and the need for more analysis of opening and closing times, school expansions and the need for more improved signage for parking restrictions. Members queried comparison with other local authorities and the arrangements in place to work with neighbouring boroughs on shared boundaries.
The committee agreed that the north and south of the borough experienced different problems given the shortage of off-street parking and relatively small parking spaces between houses in the south compared with the north of the borough’s commuter parking problems. Concern was also expressed over parking around schools and the likelihood of accidents and the need for parking arrangements to be in place for visitors to places of worship.
The Chair drew attention to parking policies set out in the report and put forward a need for a hierarchy of on-street street parking. He suggested a distinction be drawn between parking ‘need’ and parking ‘demand’, citing the example of people with disabilities who depended entirely on the use of their cars. Additionally, local businesses should be prioritised, and also essential workers and care workers should not be given a lower priority than residents.
Councillor Southwood responded that she felt the vision of the strategy to be to manage existing and future demand and promote sustainable transport as, while the rate of car ownership was falling, population levels were increasing. Additionally to identify creative ways of managing travel to and parking around schools. She also reiterated that funds were not currently available to amend existing CPZs and so a priority list should be compiled for as and when resources allowed. Regarding business priorities, Councillor Southwood ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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Complaints Annual Report 2014-15 PDF 528 KB This report provides an overview of corporate complaints received by the Council during the period April 2014 to March 2015. Additional documents:
Minutes: The report before the Scrutiny Committee provided an overview of corporate complaints received by the council during the period April 2014 to March 2015.
Councillor Pavey (Deputy Leader) in introducing the report emphasised the importance of complaints as a feedback opportunity and responsiveness indicator and felt the report would benefit from the inclusion of more case studies to demonstrate the human side. He was pleased to report consistent improvement in the speed of resolution with a high percentage resolved within 20 days. Councillor Pavey regretted the number of complaints about staff and customer services and drew attention to the list of planned improvements. Cathy Tyson (Head of Policy and Scrutiny) outlined the investigation process which aimed to seek remedy rapidly and was pleased to report that in the final quarter, 100% had been resolved within the target deadline. Cathy Tyson acknowledged concern about poor customer service, the need for clear correspondence and action plans were being compiled together with a corporate programme to reinforce standards.
The Chair expressed concern at the relatively high number of complaints fully or partly upheld at first stage and also at final stage and requested more information on cases where maladministration had been found, to aid understanding. Members questioned the possible reasons behind findings of poor customer care, the extent to which it was attributable to a lack of training or low staff morale and whether there were patterns between services. Members also questioned the response times and heard that most were resolvable within the 20 days target and questioned whether straightforward cases where the council was at fault were accepted and apologies issued at an early stage. Members requested justification for the view expressed in the report that customers resorted to the complaints process as a means of having a negative decision reviewed. They also questioned what action was being taken to compensate cases where homeless families have been kept in bed and breakfast accommodation longer than the maximum six weeks. Concern was also expressed at complaints over Veolia staff behaviour suggesting the need for independent audit. Members agreed on the need for improved communication with the public.
Councillor Pavey expressed a preference for fewer number of complaints but with a higher number upheld and Cathy Tyson added that the complaints where it had been found that policy and procedure had not been properly explained were avoidable. Councillor Pavey also questioned how it was possible to accurately benchmark complaints when they came in a variety of forms. Cathy Tyson advised that the council took part in London wide comparisons and reminded the committee that the Complaints Team was small, with no staff based in departments allowing for a corporate grip on the numbers.
Concern was also expressed at the length of time taken to complete repairs and questioned why this was the case especially for urgent cases involving residents’ safety. They suggested that staff should be more empathetic and less judgemental of complainants. Additionally, it was put that there was a democratic deficiency with ... view the full minutes text for item 7. |
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Fly Tipping task group scope PDF 384 KB Minutes: The Committee considered the proposed scope for the Scrutiny task group on Fly Tipping in Brent. This task group has been requested by the Scrutiny members in response to communicated concerns from Brent residents.
RESOLVED:
that the scope be noted. |
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Scrutiny key comments, recommendations and actions PDF 305 KB Minutes: The Committee received the log of key comments, recommendations and actions. Members noted that school admissions was listed as a proposed task group however were reminded that the process was bound by statute and the availability of places locally and in neighbouring boroughs. Councillor Pavey advised that most children had been offered school places but it been a difficult process. The school expansion programme had gone well however the additional students would in time be placing demands on secondary schools. |
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Any other urgent business Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Head of Executive and Member Services or his representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 64. Minutes: None. |