Decision details

NOTED

1.     The written response provided by the Cabinet Member for Customers, Communities and Culture to a question submitted by Councillor Rajan-Seelan regarding the activities being planned to ensure the contribution of British Tamils was fully recognised by the Council as part of Tamil Heritage month.  No supplementary question was received.

2.     The written response provided by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action to a question submitted by Councillor Ahmed regarding the changes to recycling arrangements across the borough and impact these were having at reducing the level of recyclable waste going to landfill in support of the Council’s environmental aim to become carbon neutral by 2030.  No supplementary question was received.

3.     The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security to a question submitted by Councillor Aden regarding the actions being taken by the Council to address the unprecedented increase in homelessness applications and use of Temporary Accommodation along with the contextual factors impacting on the housing crisis in Brent.

4.     The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action to a question submitted by Councillor Hirani regarding operational concerns and the financial and value for money considerations relating to implementation of the blue bag recycling scheme for card and paper across the borough.

5.     The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security to a question submitted by Councillor Georgiou regarding the current position on the Altamira Morland Gardens housing scheme, including the associated impact in terms of costs, grant funding and on the current use of the Twybridge Way site.

Responses were also provided by the relevant Cabinet Members on the following additional questions raised during the open session of this part of the meeting:

·             Councillor Jayanti Patel highlighting concerns regarding anti-social behaviour and nuisance being experienced by residents in Milky Way, Queensbury linked to Housing Association tenants living in the surrounding area and action that could be taken by the Council working with the relevant Housing Association and Safer Neighbourhood Team to address the problems being experienced.

·             Councillor Chan regarding the powers and support available through the Council, working with the police and local residents, in seeking to prevent and cease the use of local retail shop premises along Park Parade, Harlesden for illegal and unregulated activities.

·             Councillor Kelcher regarding the powers available to the Council to support the ongoing campaign to save the Royal Oak Public House in High Street, Harlesden from closure and in seeking to protect and offer business support to other similar venues, recognising their importance not only as hospitality but also as local community hubs.

·             Councillor Rubin commending the Council for their ongoing efforts to support and work with the Brent Renters Union in seeking to ensure the necessary protections were provided for tenants in the private rented sector across the borough (including the landlord licensing scheme) in order to tackle serious health and safety concerns, provide protection from evictions and ensure access to interpretation services, and seeking further details on how this could continue to be developed.

·             Councillor Lorber highlighting concern at what he felt had been the limited scope of the discussion permitted in response to the call-in on the decision to approve the Barham Park Trust Accounts at the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee call-in meeting held to consider the matter.  Details were also sought as to when it was anticipatedthe high-level consultancy based review, which had been commissioned by the Chief Executive in relation to the Trust Accounts would be available to support reconsideration of the decision referred back as an outcome of the call-in process.

·             Councillor Maurice seeking clarification on the eligibility for a family with four children to bid for a three rather than four bedroom property under the Council’s Housing Allocation Policy in order to maximise the opportunities available to secure a suitable property.

·             Councillor Mistry highlighting concerns relating to the dumping of rubbish and impact of other environmental and health and safety hazards identified by local residents along an unadopted alleyway adjacent to shops located on Kingsbury Road close to Kingsbury roundabout and Gore Court and seeking details on what measures the Council could take to address the concerns outlined.

Eligible for Call-In: No