Issue - meetings

To receive reports from the Chairs of the Council’s Scrutiny Committees in accordance with Standing Order 36. The reports have been attached as follows:

12.1    Community & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

12.2    Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee

(Agenda republished to include the update from the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee on 13 September 2023)

Members are asked to note that this session will include an opportunity (within the time available) for Non-Cabinet Members to ask questions of relevant Scrutiny Chair’s in relation to the remit of their Committees

NOTED the update reports provided by the Chair of the Community & Wellbeing and Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committees.

Eligible for Call-In: No

Before being presented with the updates from each Scrutiny Committee, the Mayor reminded members the time set aside for this item was 12 minutes, with each Chair having up to three minutes in which to highlight any significant issues arising from the work of their Committees.  Once these updates had been provided, the remaining time available would then be opened up for any other non-Cabinet members to question (without the need for advance notice) the Scrutiny Committee Chairs on matters relating to the work of their Committee.

As Councillor Ketan Sheth had given his apologies for the meeting, the Mayor advised that the report on the activity of the Community & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee would be noted as submitted.

The Mayor then invited Councillor Conneely as chair of the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee to introduce the update report on the work being undertaken by that Committee.  The following issues were highlight as part of the update:

·             The broad and dynamic nature of the Committee’s work programme being delivered during 2023-24.

·             Key issues considered since the previous update had included a review of the operational performance of the Shared Technology Service (STS) along with an update on progress in implementing the Brent and STS cyber security strategies; a review of the performance and resourcing of the planning enforcement process and progress being made in development of the Council’s Community Engagement Framework, including the engagement process with local stakeholders and communities.

·             The Committee had also been involved in actively monitoring the Council’s financial forecast position and medium-term financial outlook along with the risks and uncertainties regarding the budget setting position for 2024 – 25 and 2025-26 which, given the challenges identified, had resulted in a number of priority protection areas being outlined for consideration.  The Committee had also now also established its cross Committee Scrutiny Budget Task Group in order to review and feed into the consultation process on the budget proposals for 2024-25 and 2025-26 and ensure the proposals being developed remained transparent in nature and were designed to meet the needs of Brent’s residents, with members thanked for their participation in the process.

With no further issues raised, the Mayor thanked Councillor Conneely for presenting her update and it was RESOLVED that the contents of both scrutiny update reports be noted.

Following the updates provided, the Mayor advised that as no members indicated they had any questions she would move straight on to the next item.

To receive reports from the Chairs of the Council’s Scrutiny Committees in accordance with Standing Order 36. The reports have been attached as follows:

11.1    Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee

11.2    Community & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

Members are asked to note that this session will include an opportunity (within the time available) for Non-Cabinet Members to ask questions of relevant Scrutiny Chair’s in relation to the remit of their Committees

NOTED the update reports provided by the Chair of the Resources & Public Realm and Chair of the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committees.

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

·                  From the Chair of the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee to Councillor Kansagra seeking clarification on the outcome of the review on performance of Thames Water across the borough and Committee’s position regarding renationalisation of the utility service.

·                  From the Chair of the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee to Councillor Kabir regarding proposals for any planned new build hospital provision within the borough.

Before being presented with the updates from each Scrutiny Committee, the Mayor reminded members the time set aside for this item was 12 minutes, with each Chair having up to three minutes in which to highlight any significant issues arising from the work of their Committees.  Once these updates had been provided, the remaining time available would then be opened up for any other non-Cabinet members to question (without the need for advance notice) the Scrutiny Committee Chairs on matters relating to the work of their Committee.

Councillor Conneely was then invited to introduce the update report on the work being undertaken by the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee, with the following issues highlighted:

·                 The broad ranging and dynamic nature of the Scrutiny Committee’s work programme for 2023-24

·                 Key issues identified for review as part of the Committee’s work programme had included monitoring ongoing delivery of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy and tracking the recommendations made by the Scrutiny Budget Task Group to ensure the proposals being developed moving forward continued to meet the needs of Brent’s residents; Brent’s Community Engagement and consultation Framework to ensure the way in which the Council consulted and engaged with local residents reflected the requirements being identified; progress in delivery of Brent’s Climate & Ecological Emergency Strategy 2021-2030 with updates to also be provided on the work being taken to tackle violence against women and girls as part of the Safer Brent Partnership Community Safety Strategy.

·                 As a final update, members were advised of the Committee’s ongoing concern in relation to the operation of Thames Water as a key public service provider both in terms of their recent financial challenges and also the transparency and level of local service being provided to customers.  With a representative having attended a recent meeting, it was confirmed that the Committee would continue to keep a watching brief in order to challenge local performance with the Chair supportive of any eventual move towards renationalisation of the service as a key public utility, given the performance concerns identified.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Conneely for her update and then invited Councillor Ketan Sheth as chair of the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee to introduce the update report on the work being undertaken by that Committee.  The following issues were highlight as part of the update:

·             The broad ranging nature of the Committee’s work programme for 2023-24 with the Committee having already held its first meeting of the new Municipal Year to coincide with celebrations to mark the 75^th anniversary of the NHS.

·             Key issues considered at the initial Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee had been focussed around the delivery of health services to local residents including a review of the work being undertaken by the Council and local health partners to address health inequalities across the borough through the Brent Health Matters programme.  Whilst noting the positive and collaborative nature of work being undertaken locally, the Committee had also recognised the significant challenges still to be addressed in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12