Decisions
Use the search options below to filter the list of decisions.
27/09/2019 - Application for New Premises Licence by McDonald's Restaurants Limited for the premises known as McDonald's, Forty Lane, Wembley, pursuant to the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 ref: 4891 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee
Made at meeting: 27/09/2019 - Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee
Decision published: 27/09/2019
Effective from: 27/09/2019
Decision:
Granted with Conditions
16/09/2019 - 2018/19 Treasury Management Outturn Report ref: 4760 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 16/09/2019 - Council
Decision published: 18/09/2019
Effective from: 16/09/2019
Decision:
AGREED to note the 2018-19 Treasury Management outturn report, in compliance with the CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
16/09/2019 - Annual Report from the Leader ref: 4745 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 16/09/2019 - Council
Decision published: 18/09/2019
Effective from: 16/09/2019
Decision:
Noted the annual report provided by the Leader of the Council on the work of the Council.
16/09/2019 - Apologies for Absence ref: 4737 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 16/09/2019 - Council
Decision published: 18/09/2019
Effective from: 16/09/2019
Decision:
Apologies received from Councillors Crane, Gill, Mahmood, Marquis, Mashari, Pavey and Perrin.
16/09/2019 - Urgent Business ref: 4762 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 16/09/2019 - Council
Decision published: 18/09/2019
Effective from: 16/09/2019
Decision:
None
16/09/2019 - Motions ref: 4761 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 16/09/2019 - Council
Decision published: 18/09/2019
Effective from: 16/09/2019
Decision:
16.1 The following motion submitted by the Conservative Group was approved:
Protecting and Raising the Quality of Adult Social Care in Brent
This Council notes:
· The unprecedented times that the country is facing and the role local government has in providing local stability and leadership in these tumultuous times.
· The irreplaceable role that local council plays at the heart of communities, providing key public services that protect the most defenceless in society – children at risk, disabled adults and vulnerable older people and the services we all rely on, like clean streets, libraries and children’s centres.
· That councils up and down the UK are at breaking point, with disproportionate reductions in local council funding and comparison to the rest of the public sector.
· That councils had to spend an extra £800m in the last financial year to meet the demand on vital services to protect children and that, with an ageing population and growing demand, adult social care faces a gap of over £2bn in the next financial year.
· In Brent, as with all other council departments, adult social care has had to make significant budget savings in the past, and continues to need to make savings in the future, with a target of reducing the overall spend by £4.1m on adult social care by 2021. This is in the context of an aging population and increasing demand for services.
· Brent has an estimated prevalence of 2,470 patients living with dementia, of whom only 1,834 (74.2%) are diagnosed. This leaves an estimated 1034 undiagnosed patients living with dementia who could benefit from early diagnosis and follow up and support in the community. Brent seeks to address this gap in service with a view to providing early interventions to support people with dementia and their carers to live longer in their own homes.
· The extra £1.5bn for social care in the Government’s recent spending round - £1 billion through a new grant and £500 million through the adult social care precept.
· To implement reform – which will involve difficult choices about how to raise money to pay for services – the Government must set up an independent, cross-party inquiry on social care funding, as the Institute for Government recommended last year. This would be the best mechanism to build the public and parliamentary support needed to deliver change, with the last major attempt to reform social care funding. Then, once political support is secured, legislation will have to be passed.
· This council also notes and commends the work done with partners progressing Brent as a Dementia Friendly Borough which has been recognised nationally. This will include GP practices, leisure services, libraries, the Alzheimer’s Society, supermarkets such as Tesco, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, London Ambulance Service, Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade, local cinemas and art venues.
The Council therefore resolves:
To write to the Health Secretary Matt Hancock MP and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sajid Javid MP.
The Council requests that the Leader of the Council:
(1) Asks the Health Secretary for the Social Care Green Paper which includes a range of options for securing a sustainable funding solution for adult social care, financial protection and support for informal carers.
(2) Asks the Health Secretary for increased accountability and regulatory powers for the Care Quality Commission.
(3) Ensures the Council sign up to the Ethical Care Charter which establishes a minimum baseline for the safety, quality and dignity of care by ensuring employment conditions support a more stable workforce.
(4) Improve access to care support through the Brent Dementia Steering Group in order to ensure that health professionals inform patients of the support available to them at the point of diagnosis.
(5) Continue to work with our strategic and community partners to progress actions which provides leadership on being a Dementia Friendly Borough.
16.2 The following motion submitted by the Labour Group was approved:
Small Changes, Big Impacts – Community Wealth-Building in Brent
This Council notes:
· The Public Services (Social Value) Act was introduced in 2012. It provides a legal basis for public authorities to look for wider social, economic and environmental benefits when undertaking procurement exercises.
· Last year, councils across London spent hundreds of millions of pounds buying in essential goods, services and expertise from the private and third sectors.
· Insourcing, can, involve lower costs, a public sector ethos, economies of scale and an enhanced level of democratic accountability to local residents.
· After years of strife, Preston Council took a different approach to how they operate, and this is now starting to bear fruit. Similarly, we want to see as much of Brent’s money invested, in every sense of the word, in this borough.
· This authority has joined the Co-Operative Councils’ Innovation Network, a collaboration of 25 like-minded authorities, collectively holding budgets of £8.75 billion – with a view to finding better ways of working for, and with, people to the benefit of their communities.
· Community wealth-building aims to revive local economies, renew trust in local services and deliver a renaissance of local government; by giving local businesses and local communities a bigger stake in the local economy.
· The Labour Party has published a report entitled “Democratising Local Public Services: A Plan for Twenty-First Century Insourcing” setting out its radical blueprint to support and rebuild public services under a future Labour Government.
This council further notes:
· In procuring services over the last two years we’ve created 164 jobs through contracts; 94 new apprenticeships and 277 training opportunities at BTEC and NVQ equivalent level.
· Over the next two years, through diligent contract management a further £26m will be spent in Brent’s local supply chain.
· We have driven up social value, by connecting the widespread regeneration of Brent with the supply chain at our regular “Meet the Buyer” events; with contracts worth a cumulative total of £100m on offer to over 140 small and medium sized enterprises.
· We work with local anchor institutions, recently providing finance to the United Colleges Group for a new site, enhancing post-16 Education and potentially unlocking over one thousand desperately needed homes, at their site in Willesden Green.
· We are proud to have been an accredited a London Living Wage employer through the London Living Wage Foundation since 2013; and, we continue to offer the first business rates discount in the UK for accredited Living Wage Employers in the borough.
· We continue to make in-house and Brent-based options for the services we provide; with this Labour Council insourcing amongst a crowded field: the estate cleaning service, housing management, uniformed street litter patrols, council tax collection and crucially our procurement service.
This Council believes:
· That residents are 8 times more likely to trust local councillors to take decisions on their behalf over and above MPs and Ministers. Furthermore, 5 times more people trust their local councils over and above Government to take the best decisions on their behalf.
· That while residents support their local councils to run services and redistribute wealth, Local Government still requires the financial resources to catalyse new social contracts and make public services, local.
This Councils resolves to call on Cabinet:
(1) To develop a Social Value and Ethical Procurement Policy setting out how this council can ensure that our local community is central to the way we purchase goods and services, setting out how our small changes can have big impacts across the local economy.
(2) To demystify the Council’s procurement process, through regular training sessions, upskilling more local businesses on the tendering process – to enable Brent based traders to compete on a level playing field with larger corporations and work with Brent Council to provide vital works, services and goods.
(3) To continue to make provision for in-house services the default option, whilst setting out the strong standards for tendering, bid evaluation and contract management for any other alternative.
16.3The following motion submitted by the Labour Group was approved:
Our Community. Our Health Care
This Council notes:
· The Government has presided over the longest funding squeeze in the NHS’ history; deepened by cuts to Public Health Services and Adult Social Care.
· There are currently over 100,000 staff vacancies in NHS England, including 41,000 nurses and nearly 10,000 doctors. This figure could easily rise to 350,000 by 2030 according to research conducted by The King’s Fund, the Health Foundation and the Nuffield Trust.
· There are similarly 17,000 fewer hospital beds now than in 2010.
· The impact of Conservative cuts to public services and rising poverty are evident in the new Long Term Plan, with NHS England calculating that socioeconomic inequality causes £4.8 billion a year in greater numbers of hospitalisations.
· Nine years of austerity, cuts and privatisation have resulted in nearly 2.8 million people waiting over 4 hours in A&E last year, over 540,000 patients waiting over 18 weeks for treatment and NHS waiting lists growing to over 4.3 million.
· The underlying deficit of nearly half of the NHS trusts which provide secondary care to patients referred by a GP is close to £5 billion.
This Council further notes, the consequences of these swingeing cuts:
· North West London Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) face a significant deficit in the forthcoming year, with a projected deficit of £112m. The clinical commissioning group for Brent represents £9m of this debt.
· While North West London’s population has grown by 5%, funding is stagnant, and worsened by unplanned emergency care rising by 25%.
· In 2018, London North West Healthcare Trust received a second Requires Improvement report from the CQC.
· Proposals to merge eight CCGs in North West London into one CCG by April 2021 will lead to yet more re-organisation, change and ultimately disruption to residents.
· Public Health funding for Brent services such as smoking cessation and alcohol recovery treatment have again been cut by the Government, by £0.5m for the next year.
· Age UK states there is a “perfect storm” in the Adult Social Care sector with parts facing “total collapse”; with £8 billion needed to stabilise the system and tackle increasing complex care. The latest promised Government green paper on the sector has been delayed at least six times over the last 18 months.
· According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Mental Health Trusts have less money in real terms to spend on mental health now than in 2012 and the number of mental health nurses has fallen by 4,000.
· IFS analysis indicates that if we leave the EU, the public purse is likely to lose enough money each year to fund the whole of NHS England for 3 months.
This Council believes:
· The NHS belongs to the people; it is Labour’s proudest achievement, designed for universal healthcare for all on the basis of need, free at the point of use - the NHS should always have the resource to provide a comprehensive system, where everyone counts.
· The NHS should work across organisational and geographical boundaries, to facilitate services for every resident.
· The Government has passed the buck with cuts to public services delegated to our local NHS, resulting in a hollowing out of services in Brent and the surrounding area.
· Residents and members of the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny committee are concerned about the styming of access to GP services across the borough and upon its boundaries: with Cricklewood GP Centre under consultation to cease its walk-in provision; and Central Middlesex Urgent Care Centre consulting to curtail its hours of operation; and Pembridge Hospice in Ladbroke Grove closing its doors to new admissions.
· The reduction of services from Central Middlesex UCC will impact on our poorest residents, without access to their own vehicles, with alternative services involving lengthy journeys by public transport at night, upwards of an hour.
· These changes will be felt far and wide across the health economy, as more residents seek support through accident and emergency or via their general practitioner.
· The sustained reduction in the ability of the NHS to provide essential services affects everyone, young to old and certainly those most vulnerable.
The Council resolves:
To work with Brent’s Members of Parliament, to voice our opposition to any future arrangements in which alterations to local NHS services threaten the safety of patients or residents alike, and re-affirm the need for health services to put people at the heart of any future plans.
16/09/2019 - Report from the Vice-Chair of the Audit and Standards Advisory Committee ref: 4758 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 16/09/2019 - Council
Decision published: 18/09/2019
Effective from: 16/09/2019
Decision:
NOTED the update report provided by the Vice Chair of the Audit & Standards Advisory.
16/09/2019 - Report from Chairs of Scrutiny Committees ref: 4757 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 16/09/2019 - Council
Decision published: 18/09/2019
Effective from: 16/09/2019
Decision:
NOTED the update reports provided by the Chairs of the Resources & Public Realm and Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committees, along with an additional update provided by the Chair of the Knife Crime Scrutiny Task and Finish Group.
Responses were also provided by the relevant Scrutiny Chairs on the following additional questions raised during the open session of this part of the meeting:
· Councillor Nerva regarding:
Ø the approach towards scrutiny of the police and Safer Neighbourhood arrangements following introduction of the tri borough command structure;
Ø the inclusion of the funding position of North West London CCG and impact on patient care and waiting times as part of the work programme for the North West London Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee;
· Councillor Long:
Ø regarding scrutiny around the provision of public toilet facilities across the borough; and
Ø supporting the need identified for further scrutiny in relation to the financial position of the North West London CCG and impact on residents within the borough;
· Councillor Dar highlighting the ongoing campaign to oppose the closure of the Cricklewood GP Walk-In Centre.
16/09/2019 - Questions from the Opposition and other Non-Cabinet Members ref: 4747 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 16/09/2019 - Council
Decision published: 18/09/2019
Effective from: 16/09/2019
Decision:
NOTED
1. The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Lead Member for Housing & Welfare Reform to a question submitted by Councillor Thakkar confirming the Council’s policy in terms of non-eviction of tenants experiencing rent arrears as a result of delays in receiving Universal Credit and work being undertaken with other housing providers to encourage the adoption of a similar approach with their tenants.
2. The written response provided by the Lead Member for Regeneration, Property & Planning to a question submitted by Councillor Ahmed regarding the level of Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) funding allocated since inception of the scheme to voluntary groups, residents and other stakeholders for community infrastructure projects. No supplementary question was asked
3. The written response provided by the Deputy Leader in relation to a question submitted by Councillor Chappell detailing the total financial value of Non-Domestic Rate Relief provided for small businesses and non-profit making bodies under the Council’s current policy. No supplementary question was asked.
Responses were also provided by the relevant Lead Members on the following additional questions raised during the open session of this part of the meeting:
· Councillor Kelcher requesting urgent consideration be given to a licensing issue identified in relation to operation of a car boot sale at Newman Catholic College and enforcement action in relation to illegal street trading activity in the surrounding area when the boot sales take place.
· Councillor Choudhary regarding:
Ø a review of the Council’s Housing Allocation Policy and potential to extend the offer of bidding rights to those categorised as on Band B in relation to housing need;
Ø the policy in relation to the use of materials for footway repairs and replacement in the Barn Hill Conservation Area;
· Councillor Long regarding:
Ø Housing Key Performance Indicators and the action being taken to secure a sustained turnaround in performance, with a particular focus around customer service;
Ø The action being taken through the West London Economic Prosperity Board to support and encourage the creation of Green Jobs;
· Councillor Chan seeking support for the ongoing lobbying of TfL regarding the upgrade of the Bakerloo line with a specific focus on the accessibility of station facilities within the borough and on the provision of step free access at Kensal Green.
16/09/2019 - Non Cabinet Members' Debate ref: 4759 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 16/09/2019 - Council
Decision published: 18/09/2019
Effective from: 16/09/2019
Decision:
No subject was identified for debate.
16/09/2019 - Petitions (if any) ref: 4744 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 16/09/2019 - Council
Decision published: 18/09/2019
Effective from: 16/09/2019
Decision:
No requests were received for debates on any petitions.
16/09/2019 - Questions from Members of the Public ref: 4743 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 16/09/2019 - Council
Decision published: 18/09/2019
Effective from: 16/09/2019
Decision:
No questions were received from the public.
16/09/2019 - Deputations (if any) ref: 4742 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 16/09/2019 - Council
Decision published: 18/09/2019
Effective from: 16/09/2019
Decision:
NOTED the following deputations received at the meeting:
(a) Dawn Butler MP in support of the Labour Group motion relating to health services in Brent and expressing concern at the proposed reduction in opening hours of the Urgent Care Centre at Central Middlesex Hospital. The concerns raised were supported by Councillor Farah, responding to the deputation as Lead Member for Adult Social Care.
(b) Fiona Mulaisho highlighting public health concerns regarding air quality and pollution along the Kensal Rise Corridor (with specific reference to Chamberlain Road and Station Terrace) and seeking details on what action the Council was taking with other partners such as TfL in order to protect the health and wellbeing of local residents in the area. Councillor Krupa Sheth, responding to the deputation as Lead Member for Environment, took the opportunity to highlight the work being undertaken by the Council to monitor and tackle air quality with specific reference to the promotion of sustainable transport initiatives, introduction of a diesel surcharge, increase in electric vehicle charging points and work with TfL to encourage the roll-out of electric buses and to introduce an anti-idling policy.
16/09/2019 - Reports from the Leader and Cabinet ref: 4746 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 16/09/2019 - Council
Decision published: 18/09/2019
Effective from: 16/09/2019
Decision:
NOTED the report and accompanying update provided by the Lead Member for Housing and Welfare Reform highlighting the following in relation to her portfolio:
· Successful completion of the Estate Cleaning service being bought back in-house;
· The ongoing consultation being undertaken in relation to proposed changes to the Council Tax Support (CTS) scheme along with the Council’s commitment to maintain the current level of investment at £28.9m in recognition of the important assistance being provided through the scheme for many residents;
· The celebrations being planned to mark the 100-year anniversary of the Addison Act having been passed;
· The recent and planned provision of additional council and affordable social housing across the borough.
16/09/2019 - Appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies and Appointment of Chairs/Vice Chairs (if any) ref: 4741 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 16/09/2019 - Council
Decision published: 18/09/2019
Effective from: 16/09/2019
Decision:
NOTED that under the new London West Regional Adoption arrangements the requirement for Brent to operate its own Adoption and Permanency Panel would cease after 30 September 2019.
16/09/2019 - Mayor's Announcements (including any petitions received) ref: 4740 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 16/09/2019 - Council
Decision published: 18/09/2019
Effective from: 16/09/2019
Decision:
NOTED the announcements from the Mayor in relation to:
· Pride of Brent Youth Awards
· Harlesden Festival
· Mayors Civic Ceremony
· 125th Anniversary of Willesden Library and Great British High Street Awards 2019
· Opening of Brent Hub Kilburn
· Flag Raising Ceremonies – Jamaican Independence, Pakistan Independence, Indian Independence and Emergency Services Day
· Visits from student groups from The School for Ethics and Global Leadership (USA) and E-associates Educational Consulting (Nigeria)
· Brent Summer Reading Challenge
· Success of Brent students in their GSCE, A Level and Vocational Qualification results
· Mayoral Charity Events – Football Competition (15 October 19) & Christmas Party (6 December 19)
· Support for biodiversity work
· Brent named as joint friendliest borough in London
· Brent Black History Month 2019 – Celebrating Black Excellence (17 October 19)
· Minutes silence in memory of former Councillors Pat Harrison and John Detre
· Petitions
16/09/2019 - Declarations of Interest ref: 4739 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 16/09/2019 - Council
Decision published: 18/09/2019
Effective from: 16/09/2019
Decision:
No interests declared.
16/09/2019 - Minutes of the Previous Meeting ref: 4738 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 16/09/2019 - Council
Decision published: 18/09/2019
Effective from: 16/09/2019
Decision:
Minutes of the Council meeting held on 8 July 2019 agreed as a correct record.