Issue - meetings

To receive an annual report from the Leader of the Council, in accordance with Standing Order 38.

NOTED the annual report provided by the Leader of the Council on the work of the Council and state of the borough.

Eligible for Call-In: No

The Mayor then invited Councillor Muhammed Butt, as Leader of the Council, to present his Annual Report on the work of the Council and State of the Borough.

Councillor Muhammed Butt opened the Annual Report by reflecting on the impact which the brief tenure of former Prime Minister Liz Truss, had created in terms of the current economic and financial challenges facing the country and public services in particular.  Reference was also made to the current Prime Minister and how far removed the Government seemed to be from the impact of their policies on local communities and ongoing underfunding of public services with specific reference to schools, prisons, NHS waiting times, growing housing demand, and the part-cancellation of HS2.  In contrast, he highlighted how the Labour Administration were working to support local residents, particularly those more vulnerable who relied on public services, in order to ensure no one was left behind.

In outlining the work of the Council over the past year, the Leader commended the Council’s investment in services that supported residents, such as the Resident Support Fund, Council Tax Relief Scheme, the delivery of new Social and Affordable housing and the commitment to a cleaner and greener borough. In highlighting the protection being provided for local residents given the nature of the wider financial and economic challenges being faced as a result of the cost-of-living crisis he also felt it important to recognise that these investments had been delivered despite the Government’s ongoing programme of austerity and also opposition from the Conservative Group who, he reminded members, had proposed removal of the Resident Support Fund as an alternative budget proposal.  The stance of the Liberal Democrat Group was also queried, given their opposition to various social housing development schemes and the previous role of the Party nationally as part of the Conservative led coalition Government which had introduced the programme of austerity still impacting on public services today. To illustrate the impact of austerity across the UK, the Leader highlighted that 2.5 million food bank packages had been distributed across the UK in 2021, compared with 60,000 when the coalition had first come into power in 2010.

As an alternative, Councillor Muhammed Butt highlighted the way in which the Labour Party nationally and Administration in Brent were working to protect public services and local residents based on continued investment in the economy, education, health and social care, the environment and local communities.  Within Brent this had involved continuing to support local businesses, investment in early years support and school improvement, health prevention services and integrated care along with work to tackle the climate emergency, improve air quality and provide community facilities and support in order to promote social cohesion, community safety and more vulnerable members of society.  In commending the work of each Cabinet Member in support of the Council’s objectives, Councillor Muhammed Butt concluded by recognising the extent of work still required to mitigate against the damage being caused through the actions of the current Conservative Government  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10