Issue - meetings
Deputations (if any)
Meeting: 16/09/2019 - Council (Item 6)
Deputations (if any)
To hear any deputations received from members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 32.
Additional documents:
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.
Minutes:
The Mayor advised that, in accordance with Standing Order 32, he had received requests for two deputations. The first had been received from Dawn Butler, MP for Brent Central, and related to the motion submitted for consideration later during the meeting on health services in Brent and the proposals to reduce the opening hours at the Urgent Care Centre, Central Middlesex Hospital. The second deputation had been received from Ms Fiona Mulaisho who had requested to speak about public health concerns regarding pollution.
The Mayor welcomed Dawn Butler MP to the meeting and invited her to introduce the deputation. Ms Butler began by paying her own tribute to the two Councillors who had been commemorated earlier in the meeting and particularly remembered Pat Harrison as a formidable campaigner. She introduced her deputation on the future of healthcare services in Brent, noting that it was the first time a sitting MP had addressed Full Council.
Ms Butler spoke about the strains on local healthcare services as a result of sustained cuts since 2010, including the closure of the A&E facility at the Central Middlesex hospital in 2014. She noted that the loss of the Sickle Cell Unit from Central Middlesex to Northwick Park Hospital had also affected many people in the Borough suffering from the disease, given the increased distance they needed to travel for treatment. Ms Butler continued that the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) was now proposing to reduce the opening hours of the Urgent Care Centre located at Central Middlesex Hospital between the hours of midnight and 8am, with the nearest alternative overnight facility being over an hour away. Highlighting strong concerns about the proposal, she felt there was a need for a full public consultation and for the CCG to be held to account in relation to the long-term strategy behind the reduction in resources.
The Mayor thanked Ms Butler for her comments and then invited Councillor Farah, as Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care to respond to the deputation.
Councillor Farah, took the opportunity to thank Ms Butler for her deputation highlighting his shared concerns about the continued reduction in local health services and important need to protect the NHS as one of the nations and Labours proudest achievements. In concluding, Councillor Farah pledged the ongoing support of the Council’s Cabinet in campaigning to protect local health services for all residents.
The Mayor thanked Councillor Farah for his response and then moved on to invite Fiona Mulaisho to present the second deputation.
Ms Mulaisho introduced herself as a Kensal Rise resident and former Chair of Clean Air for Brent and went on to highlight a number of concerns regarding air pollution, particularly in Kensal Rise, where she felt traffic volumes were exacerbating the problem. Ms Mulaisho advised that Chamberlayne Road was one of the worst polluted streets in London and Ark Franklin Primary Academy, a school on Chamberlayne Road, was named as one of the 50 worst polluted schools in London, according to the ... view the full minutes text for item 6