Issue - meetings

To consider any petitions for which notice has been provided, in accordance with Standing Order 66.

Members are asked to note that the following petition(s) are due to be presented at the meeting:

·             Planting of additional trees along Bathurst Gardens

·             Special Educational Needs and Disability School Transport

5.1     Planting of Additional Trees Along Bathurst Gardens

Cabinet NOTED the comments made by Naeema Hasan in support of a petition containing 58 signatures from local residents seeking the planting of additional trees along Bathurst Gardens.  In addressing Cabinet, Naeema Hasan outlined what were felt to be the significant benefits provided for those living amongst trees, which included improved air quality, improved energy conservation and most importantly improving the mental health and wellbeing of local residents.

In emphasising the disparity of tree coverage between Bathurst Gardens and neighbouring streets Naeema Hasan advised that, whilst being one of the longest street in the local area, Bathurst Gardens was an outlier in terms of the number of trees containing only 12.  This number compared to the 48 trees on Clifford Gardens, 43 on Leigh Gardens, 37 on Buchanan Gardens, 51 on Palermo Road and 17 on College Road (between Mortimer Road and Purves Road).  As an additional contribution in support of the comments raised, a further local resident (Arun Kumar) also spoke to highlight the number of mature trees which had been lost over the years without being replaced as a further contributory factor with the petitioners, as a result, calling on the Council to consider the planting of more tress along Bathurst Gardens.

In responding, Councillor Krupa Sheth (as Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action) began by thanking Naeema Hasan for attending the meeting in order to present the petition on behalf of local residents.  In highlighting the challenging nature of the financial position faced by the Council she advised that whilst unable to commit any core budget for the provision of new trees she would be willing, in response to the petition, to facilitate a meeting between local residents, ward councillors and the Council’s Principal Landscape Architect in order to explore the options available.  This was in view of the need, given the resource pressures identified, for tree planting projects of the type being sought to be supported through external funding with the officer identified having already indicated he would be willing to meet with residents from Bathurst Gardens in order to consider the potential options available to seek funding for such a scheme.  In concluding her response, Councillor Krupa Sheth reiterated her willingness to facilitate such a meeting in order to explore all available options.

5.2     Special Educational Needs and Disability School Transport

Cabinet NOTED the comments made by Zaynab Alfadhi in support of a petition containing 123 signatures regarding the arrangements for the provision of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) school transport within Brent.  In addressing Cabinet, Zaynab Alfadhi began by explaining that she was a resident of Brent and the parent of a child with special educational needs attending a special school in Brent and in presenting the petition was also representing the families of other children with SEND from across the borough in order to raise concerns, which had been ongoing for a number of years, regarding the provision of SEND transport given  ...  view the full decision text for item 5

5.1     Planting of Additional Trees Along Bathurst Gardens

Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) welcomed Naeema Hasan to the meeting, who had been invited to speak in support of a petition containing 58 signatures from local residents requesting the planting of additional trees along Bathurst Gardens.  In welcoming the opportunity to speak on behalf of local residents, Naeema Hasan began by outlining what were felt to be the significant benefits provided by trees located within residential areas, which included improved air quality, improved energy conservation and most importantly improving the mental health and wellbeing of local residents.

In emphasising the disparity of tree coverage between Bathurst Gardens and neighbouring streets Naeema Hasan advised that, whilst being one of the longest streets in the local area, Bathurst Gardens was an outlier in terms of the number of trees containing only 12.  This number compared to 48 trees on Clifford Gardens, 43 on Leigh Gardens, 37 on Buchanan Gardens, 51 on Palermo Road and 17 on College Road (between Mortimer Road and Purves Road).  As an additional contribution in support of the comments raised, a further local resident (Arun Kumar) also spoke to highlight the number of mature trees which had been lost and not replaced over the years as a further contributory factor with the petitioners, as a result, calling on the Council to consider the planting of more tress along Bathurst Gardens.

In responding, Councillor Krupa Sheth (as Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action) began by thanking Naeema Hasan for attending the meeting to present the petition on behalf of local residents.  In highlighting the challenging nature of the financial position faced by the Council she advised that whilst unable to commit any core budget for the provision of new trees she would be willing, in response to the petition, to facilitate a meeting between local residents, ward councillors and the Council’s Principal Landscape Architect in order to explore the alternative options available.  This was in view of the need, given the resource pressures identified, for tree planting projects of the type being sought to be supported through external funding with the officer identified having already indicated he would be willing to meet with residents from Bathurst Gardens in order to consider the potential options available to seek funding for such a scheme.  In concluding her response, Councillor Krupa Sheth reiterated her willingness to facilitate such a meeting in order to explore all available options.

5.2     Special Educational Needs and Disability School Transport

Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) then moved on to welcome Zaynab Alfadhi to the meeting, who had been invited to speak in support of a separate petition containing 123 signatures regarding the arrangements for the provision of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) school transport within Brent.  In addressing Cabinet, Zaynab Alfadhi began by explaining that she was a resident of Brent and the parent of a child with special educational needs attending a special school in Brent.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5