Issue - meetings

The purpose of this report is to update Cabinet on two Housing Infrastructure Fund bids which have passed the first stage of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) approval process for funding and are now going through a due diligence process.

RESOLVED:-

      i.        Cabinet agreed to receive grant funding and enter into grant agreements with the Greater London Authority for two Housing Infrastructure Fund bids relating to South Kilburn and Northwick Park regeneration Programmes

    ii.        Cabinet delegated to the Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and the Lead Member for Regeneration, Highways and Planning authority to agree the detail of the grant agreements for the bid relating to South Kilburn

   iii.        Cabinet delegated to the Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and the Deputy Leader (as Lead Member for Resources)authority to agree the detail of the grant agreements for the bid relating to Northwick Park

Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of the Council, welcomed Ms Elizabeth Lloyd, a Northwick Park resident, to the meeting. In accordance with Standing Order 13 Cabinet heard a public question from Ms Lloyd on the matter of the housing infrastructure bid relating to the Northwick Park Regeneration Programme as set out in the report.

Ms Lloyd stated that Northwick Park was a much loved and well used local facility, highlighting, at the same time, that it had been recognised Brent was deficient in all types of open space and recreation grounds. She felt that the Council therefore had an obligation to protect these areas from inappropriate development, with the report not clearly demonstrating the extent of the regeneration area which would be affected by the project, or seeming to take into account any planning protection designations.

Ms Lloyd felt that there had been insufficient public consultation on the programme to date and noted that there was a growing concern amongst local residents on the likely impact of any proposed development in Northwick Park. As a result she asked for clarification on the following issues:

(a)       the boundaries of the regeneration area subject to the grant application, requesting publication of a plan;

(b)       for clarification on the evidence in support of the criteria met under the terms of the grant application; and

(c)        an indication of the alternative routes being considered for any access road to the regeneration area.

In response, Councillor Shama Tatler, Lead Member for Regeneration, Planning and Highways thanked Ms Lloyd for her contribution at the meeting. She stated that the report was part of a wider project seeking to unlock more housing opportunities and improve the local infrastructure. She acknowledged the importance of protecting open spaces in Brent, as set out by the Greater London Authority and reassured Ms Lloyd that no action would be taken without appropriate public consultation.

RESOLVED:-

      i.        Cabinet agreed to receive grant funding and enter into grant agreements with the Greater London Authority for two Housing Infrastructure Fund bids relating to South Kilburn and Northwick Park regeneration Programmes

    ii.        Cabinet delegated to the Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and the Lead Member for Regeneration, Highways and Planning authority to agree the detail of the grant agreements for the bid relating to South Kilburn

   iii.        Cabinet delegated to the Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and the Deputy Leader (as Lead Member for Resources)authority to agree the detail of the grant agreements for the bid relating to Northwick Park