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

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.

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    Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee

12.2    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.

The Mayor then moved on to deal with the updates from each Scrutiny Committee Chair, reminding members that 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, he advised 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 & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee, with the following issues highlighted:

·            The wide-ranging nature of scrutiny activity undertaken by the Committee since the last update, as set out within the update report circulated with the agenda which had included a focus on housing, recycling and the provision of affordable housing.

·            In response to concerns identified in relation to underperformance around complaints relating to housing repairs the Committee had sought to challenge officers and the contractor on performance, recognising the impact on tenants.  As a result of their review the Committee had welcomed the changes outlined in terms of enhanced contract accountability, introduction of transparent resident led performance monitoring (including establishment of the Housing Board) along with the strengthening of financial protection when services broke down as part of the approach in developing a clear plan for improvement for tenants on which the Committee would continue to closely monitor progress.

·            As part of their focus on recycling, the Committee continued to monitor performance in relation to the improvements being sought in recycling rates, again welcoming the shift towards the development of improved infrastructure for food waste and communal recycling along with the enhanced tracking of households missing out and efforts being made to address corporate waste, including lobbing for limits on single use plastic bags by independent retailers on the high street.  The Committee had also identified the need to ensure a cohesive plan was developed for any investment being made available through the Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme.

·            The Committee had also considered arrangements for the provision of affordable social housing as part of the upcoming Local Plan review.  Whilst recognising the need to provide alternative options for delivery, the Committee had questioned the inclusion of Shared Ownership and Student Accommodation as genuine affordable housing products and also identified, as part of the review of the Local Plan, a need for land value mapping, the provision of more sustainable options for affordable housing along with enhanced incentives for social housing partners supported by the need to secure essential supporting infrastructure as part of future developments and the need for greater challenge in terms of viability assessments.  The establishment of the Local Plan Member Working Group had also been welcomed in this respect.

·            The ongoing monitoring of Brent’s overall financial position based on detailed updates regarding the financial outturn position for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13

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    Committee Community & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

12.2    Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny

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.

(Agenda republished to include the report from the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee on 4 July 2025)

Having returned the Mayor moved on to deal with the updates from each Scrutiny Committee Chair, reminding members that 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, he advised 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 Ketan Sheth was then invited to introduce the update report on the work being undertaken by the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, with the following issues highlighted:

·            Having congratulated Councillor Bajwa on his appointment as Deputy Mayor, and welcoming Councillor Afzal as the newly appointed Vice-Chair on the Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Ketan Sheth updated members on the work being undertaken to finalise the Committee’s work programme for 2025-26 which, recognising its flexible and broad ranging nature, had included engagement with Brent Youth Parliament to ensure the views of young people across the borough were included as well as engagement with a range of other key stakeholders including local health providers, housing, social care and the local community.

·            The significant work undertaken by the Committee, since the start of the 2025-26 Municipal Year with the most recent meeting focussed on the Brent Safeguarding Adults Board (Multi-agency safeguarding arrangements) Annual Report 2024 - 25 and Brent Safeguarding Children Partnership (Multi-agency safeguarding arrangements) Annual Report 2024 – 25.  The Committee had been pleased to welcome the Independent Chairs of both Boards to the meeting with the  primary focus on the multi-agency partnership arrangements in place to address the various safeguarding challenges identified.

·            The ongoing and active engagement of the Committee in the work of the North West London Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee Brent, which Councillor Ketan Sheth continued to Chair.  This had included a review of proposals relating to Palliative Care, the Health Equity Programme and on the recent proposals regarding the restructuring of NHS England (NHSE) and impact of funding reductions to the Integrated Care Strategy and Board structure along with NorthWest London Planned Care Strategy and NHS Ten Year Plan.  Members were advised the work programme for the Joint Committee had also now been finalised for 2025-26 on which further updates would continue to be provided.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Ketan Sheth for his update and then, in the absence of Councillor Conneely (who it was noted had submitted apologies for absence at the meeting) invited Councillor Kennelly (as Vice Chair of the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee) to introduce the update report on the work being undertaken by that Committee with the following issues highlighted:

·            The wide-ranging nature of scrutiny activity undertaken by the Committee since the last update, as set out within the update report circulated with the agenda.  In noting the debate scheduled to take place on the introduction of a visitor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13

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    Committee Community & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

12.2    Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny

(Agenda republished to include the update from the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee on 16 November 2024)

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.

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 Ketan Sheth was then invited to introduce the update report on the work being undertaken by the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, with the following issues highlighted:

·             Issue considered at the last meeting of the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee had been focused around Children and Young People including an overview of SEND provision in Brent and Early Years Provision and progress being made towards meeting the expansion of childcare entitlements.  Both items had provided an enhanced understanding on how the Council continued to deliver services for children and young people along with the pressures schools and other providers were facing both financially and in relation to resources as they prepared for the planned expansion of childcare entitlements.

·             The review of SEND provision across the borough had highlighted current levels of need in terms of the number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) and associated pressure on the Council to assess each child and ensure the appropriate packages of support were available, recognising the increasingly complex nature of need being identified.  Despite the challenges identified, the Committee had also been pleased to recognise the work being undertaken to maximise the support available to children and young people with SEND, including both inclusive and specialist educational provision along with the progress in delivery of the SEND capital programme which aimed to provide more than four hundred local SEND places.  Areas for improvement identified had included the gap for post-sixteen provision, which members were advised the new post-sixteen skills and resource centre in Welsh Harp would help to address, and the continued work being carried out to reduce the waiting times for families applying for an EHCP on which the Committee had agreed to continue monitoring developments and progress.

·             In terms of Early Years provision and progress being made towards meeting the expansion of childcare entitlements the Committee had received an update on the borough-wide response focussed around the provision by independent nurseries or childminders and Council’s supporting role.  The Committee had been pleased to note the range of excellent provision already on offer along with the contribution early years providers made to the borough, with members reassured that Brent had prepared for the expansion and was supporting providers and the parent carer experience.  The review undertaken by the Committee also included evidence from a voluntary agency nursery manager and an early years childminder who both not only thanked the Early Years Team and the Inclusion Team for their support but also explained  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13

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:

13.1    Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny

(Agenda republished to include the update report from the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee on 18 September 2024)

13.2    Committee 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.

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 work undertaken to finalise the Committee’s work programme for 2024-25 recognising its flexible, dynamic and broad ranging nature and engagement  of relevant stakeholders and the local community in its development.

·            The wide-ranging nature of scrutiny activity undertaken by the Committee since the last update, with key issues highlighted as an outcome of this work including:

Ø   The ongoing monitoring of Brent’s overall financial position based on detailed updates regarding the financial outturn position for 2022-23, current financial forecast and the medium-term financial outlook with the Council continuing to operate in a challenging financial environment with an uncertain funding outlook and the potential for significant ongoing spending pressures in demand-led services such as social care and homelessness.  As a  result, the Committee had recommended the continuation of lobbying efforts for the urgent reform of local government finance in order to provide local authorities with greater options for how they raised and spent resources (e.g. fiscal devolution options leading to more freedoms over local revenues such as 100% business rates retention and flexible use/spend of community infrastructure levy (CIL) monies) along with calling for an end to the privatisation of Children’s social care services and greater co-ordinated between local authorities in the commissioning of services designed to curb profiteering by private companies and create new insourcing opportunities.

Ø   The review of the initial year of operation of the new Grounds Maintenance Contract which had included contributions from local stakeholder groups and the Committee keen to encourage greater communication and collaboration between the new contractor and these groups as a result.  Other issues highlighted had been the need to provide a clearer outline of expected standards, performance, key achievements, challenges  and priorities within the Grounds Maintenance contract along with improved coordination between the verge cutting and street cleaning operations across the borough.

Ø   The review of the contribution being made through i4B Holdings Ltd (i4B) and First Wave Housing Ltd towards delivery of the Council’s strategic housing objectives and in contributing towards the provision of affordable housing.  This had resulted in the Committee highlighting a need  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14

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

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.

(Agenda republished to include the update report from the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee on 3 July 2024)

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 Ketan Sheth was then invited to introduce the update report on the work being undertaken by the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, with the following issues highlighted:

·             The Chair took the opportunity to thank those members who had stepped down at the end of the previous Municipal Year for the support provided during their time on the Committee and also to welcome those members who had subsequently joined the Committee.

·             The work being undertaken to finalise the Committee’s work programme for 2024-25 which, recognising its flexible and broad ranging nature, had already included engagement with Brent Youth Parliament to ensure the views of young people across the borough were included and planned engagement with a range of other key stakeholders including local health providers, housing, social care and the local community.

·             The significant work already undertaken by the Committee, since the start of the 2024-25 Municipal Year which had included a focus on the Annual School Standards and Achievement report, implementation of the Brent Carer’s Strategy and update on the Brent Reablement Service with options also being considered to provide a more localised focus for future scrutiny meetings and review activity.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Ketan Sheth for his update and 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 work also being undertaken to finalise the Committee’s work programme for 2024-25 which, again recognising its dynamic and broad ranging nature, the Chair was keen to ensure included engagement with relevant stakeholders and also input from the local community.

·             The wide-ranging nature of scrutiny activity undertaken by the Committee since the last update, with key issues highlighted as an outcome of this work including:

Ø   the need identified to address and provide a consistent methodology across London for assessing viability in relation to the delivery of affordable housing alongside stricter building standards and quality measures and more stringent targets for the delivery of affordable social housing;

Ø   the work being undertaken to develop a ‘Public Health’ approach towards delivery of the Safer Brent Community Safety Strategy, involving work with key partners to act earlier, identify wider support needs and improve interventions to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour, with a particular focus on knife crime aligned with regional and national strategies.

·             The ongoing focus and work of the Committee in seeking to encourage, where identified  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13