Agenda item
Report from the Leader or members of the Cabinet
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 provision within the borough.
Councillor Crane (Lead Member for Environment) reported that in the weeks to come, leaflets would be distributed detailing the new recycling and waste service that would be starting in April 2015. He reported on the free parking in the Council’s car parks in the period leading up to Christmas. Councillor Crane also pointed out that the Council was consulting on a cycling strategy and referred to the exhibition on display outside the meeting hall.
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