Issue - meetings

7.1   To receive questions submitted by the public to Cabinet Members, in accordance with Standing Order 33.

Members are asked to note that four public questions have been receive, which have been attached along with their written response.

7.2   To receive questions submitted from Brent Youth Parliament to Cabinet Members, in accordance with Standing Order 33 (c).

One question has been received under this item, which has been attached along with the written response provided.

NOTED

1.         The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Lead Member for Environment to a public question submitted by Martin Francis regarding a review of flood management arrangements within the borough.

2.         The written response provided jointly by the Deputy Leader & Lead Members for Environment to a public question submitted by Rimal Shah regarding the impact of Council Tax increase and traffic fines on levels of poverty across the borough. No supplementary question was received.

3.         The written response provided by the Lead Member for Regeneration, Property & Planning to a public question submitted by Julia Lefene regarding the impact of planning developments on infrastructure, sewers and access to housing across the borough.  No supplementary question was received.

4.         The written response provided by the Lead Member for Regeneration, Property & Planning to a public question submitted by Philip Grant regarding the level of affordable housing being provided within the development on the former Copland School site on the corner of Cecil Avenue and Wembley High Road.  A supplementary question was received regarding use of grant funding to support the provision of affordable housing and justification for the approach adopted in relation to the former Copland School site and elsewhere across the borough.  The Mayor advised that a written response would be provided on the supplementary question as the Lead Member had needed to submit her apologies for the meeting.

5.      The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Lead Member for Children’s Safeguarding, Early Help and Social Care to a question submitted by Ben Maher on behalf of Brent Youth Parliament regarding the OFSTED review of sexual harassment in schools and colleges and the approach being adopted in Brent to address the issues identified.

88.1 Questions from the Public

The Mayor advised that the following four questions had been received from members of the public:

Question 1 from Martin Francis to Councillor Krupa Sheth, Lead Member for Environment, regarding a review of flood management arrangements within the borough.

Question 2 from Rimal Shah addressed jointly to Councillor McLennan, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Resources, and Councillor Krupa Sheth, Lead Member for Environment, regarding the impact of Council Tax increase and traffic fines on levels of poverty across the borough.

Question 3 from Julia Lefene to Councillor Tatler, Lead Member for Regeneration, Property & Planning, regarding the impact of planning developments on infrastructure, sewers and access to housing across the borough.

Question 4 from Philip Grant to Councillor Tatler, Lead Member for Regeneration, Property & Planning, regarding the level of affordable housing being provided within the development on the former Copland School site on the corner of Cecil Avenue and Wembley High Road.

Members noted the written responses provided on each of the questions, which had been circulated with the agenda.  The Mayor advised that each member of the public had been invited to attend the meeting.  Whilst Rimal Shah and Julia Lefene had been unable to attend, members were advised that Martin Francis was present in order to ask a supplementary question on both his question and that submitted by Philip Grant, who had been unable to attend the meeting.  The Mayor welcomed Martin Francis to the meeting and the following supplementary questions were asked of the relevant Lead Member(s).

Question 1: Supplementary Question from Martin Francis to Councillor Krupa Sheth, Lead Member for Environment

Having noted the written response provided, Martin Francis felt this had not directly covered all points raised in his original question.  Referring to a response provided at a scrutiny meeting earlier in November where members had been advised a review of the 2015 Flood Risk Management Strategy was required within the context of climate change (for example the forecast 59% increase in winter rainfall) and necessary local mitigations, he asked the Lead Member for Environment:

·             If a timetable could be provided for the review along with details of the partnership members that would be involved; and

·             Whether the review, as recommended by the London Flood Risk Management Strategic Partnership, would include an assessment of the accumulativeimpact of developments across the borough on flooding and drainage infrastructure systems.

Given the detailed nature of the issues raised Councillor Krupa Sheth advised that she would arrange for a written response to be provided following the meeting.

Question 4: Supplementary Question presented on behalf of Philip Grant by Martin Francis to Councillor Tatler, Lead Member for Regeneration, Property & Planning.

Referring to the urgent need for more affordable Council homes in the borough the supplementary question presented by Martin Francis on behalf of Philip Grant began by querying why only 37 of the 250 properties in the plans for the Cecil Avenue site would be for affordable rent whilst 152  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8