Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillor McLennan declared an interest in the item relating to tender contract for an energy company obligation (ECO) as the council’s representative on Energy Solutions (North West London).

RESOLVED:

that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 15 July 2013 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

None.

A petition has been submitted by the Brent and Harrow Palestine Solidarity Campaign in the following terms:

“We call on Brent Council to exclude Veolia Environmental Services from the list of contractors approved to bid for the Public Realm Contract in Brent because of Veolia’s complicity in the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.”

The petition contains more than the required 50 valid signatures.

The Executive heard from Elizabeth Lindsay, speaking on behalf of the Brent and Harrow Palestine Solidarity Campaign who presented a petition calling on the council to excluded Veolia Environmental Services from the list of contractors approved to bid for the for the Public Realm Contract because Veolia was said to be complicit in the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory. She urged the council be concerned about ethical procurement and cited accounts of alleged violation of international humanitarian law. She presented information that she indicated evidenced a link between Veolia in the UK and Veolia in Israel,  gave examples of decisions she indicated had been taken by other local authorities not to included Veolia in their list of preferred bidders and asked the council to have regard to its commitment to equality and to take a principled stand.

On behalf of the Executive, the Councillor R Moher (Deputy Leader of the Council, in the Chair) thanked the petitioners for attending the meeting and advised that they would receive a formal response from the Borough Solicitor.

This report puts forward proposals to retender the existing public health service areas currently under contracts which were transferred from the NHS to the Council on 1 April 2013. The current 28 contracts have a combined value of £13.09 million and will expire as of 31 March 2014.

(i)         that the approach to procuring services as set out in paragraph 3.6 to 3.16 of the report from the Acting Director of Adult Social Services to include the establishment of a framework agreement consisting of four lots in respect of substance misuse, sexual health services, children’s services and community services be noted;

(ii)        that approval be given to the pre-tender considerations and the criteria to be used to evaluate tenders as set out in paragraph 4.1 of the report in respect of the framework agreement detailed in (i) above;

(iii)       that approval be given to the invite od tenders in respect of the framework agreement detailed in (i) above and their evaluation in accordance with the approved evaluation criteria referred to in (ii) above;

(iv)       that the intention to explore the possibility of collaboratively procuring sexual health services and children’s services through the West London Alliance be noted;

(v)        that approval be given to the extension of current public health contracts for the duration and on the terms detailed in the table at paragraph 3.16 of the Director’s report;

(vi)       that the intention to explore the possibility of collaboratively procuring LES services (excluding breast feeding) through the West London Alliance be noted;

(vii)      that where officers wish to collaboratively procure the services referred to in (iv) and (vi) above through the West London Alliance and the proposed lead authority is not Brent Council, approval be given to the collaborative procurement and exempt the procurement from the normal requirements of Brent’s Contract Standing Orders in accordance with Contract Standing Order 85(c) and 84(a) on the basis that there are good operational reasons as set out in paragraphs 3.14 to 3.15 of the Director’s report.

The report from the Acting Director of Adult Social Services put forward proposals to retender the existing public health service areas currently under contracts which were transferred from the NHS to the Council on 1 April 2013. The report requested approval to invite tenders in respect of a framework agreement as required by Contract Standing Order 88 and outlined a timetable for the proposed procurement process including a description of the extensions which would be required on current contracts to allow sufficient time for officers to complete the retendering process. Councillor Hirani (Lead Member, Adults and Health) advised that the contracts were due to expire as of 21 March 2013 and that the retendering process would be on-going. He pointed out that while the majority of public health contracts were included in the framework, some agreements were specific to GPs and pharmacists and could not be provided by non-clinical providers. Councillor Hirani welcomed the initiative as a positive one for the borough in its role as a public health provider and assured that procurement would be in accordance with the council’s standards.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that the approach to procuring services as set out in paragraph 3.6 to 3.16 of the report from the Acting Director of Adult Social Services to include the establishment of a framework agreement consisting of four lots in respect of substance misuse, sexual health services, children’s services and community services be noted;

(ii)        that approval be given to the pre-tender considerations and the criteria to be used to evaluate tenders as set out in paragraph 4.1 of the report in respect of the framework agreement detailed in (i) above;

(iii)       that approval be given to the invite of tenders in respect of the framework agreement detailed in (i) above and their evaluation in accordance with the approved evaluation criteria referred to in (ii) above;

(iv)       that the intention to explore the possibility of collaboratively procuring sexual health services and children’s services through the West London Alliance be noted;

(v)        that approval be given to the extension of current public health contracts for the duration and on the terms detailed in the table at paragraph 3.16 of the Director’s report;

(vi)       that the intention to explore the possibility of collaboratively procuring LES services (excluding breast feeding) through the West London Alliance be noted;

(vii)      that where officers wish to collaboratively procure the services referred to in (iv) and (vi) above through the West London Alliance and the proposed lead authority is not Brent Council, approval be given to the collaborative procurement and exempt the procurement from the normal requirements of Brent’s Contract Standing Orders in accordance with Contract Standing Order 85(c) and 84(a) on the basis that there are good operational reasons as set out in paragraphs 3.14 to 3.15 of the Director’s report.

This report informs the Executive of the outcome of the statutory proposals to alter the character of the following schools from September 2013 and recommends that they be approved: close the Additionally Resourced Provision at Kensal Rise Primary School; increase places at the Additionally Resourced Provision at Oakington Manor Primary School; increase places at Woodfield Special School.

(i)         that approval be given to the permanent closure of the Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP) at Kensal Rise Primary School with effect from September 2013;

(ii)        that approval be given to the change to the character of Oakington Manor Primary School by increasing the number of Additionally Resourced Places (ARP) from 25 to 35 places and to change the designation from SLCN to SLCN and ASD from September 2013;

(iii)       that approval be given to the expansion of Woodfield Special School by adding 40 new places for students aged 14 to 19 and change the designation of the school to provide for the needs of students with moderate learning difficulties (MLD), severe learning difficulties (SLD) and autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) from September 2014;

(iv)       that it be noted that Brent Council is addressing the increased demand for special school places through a number of initiatives guided by careful analysis of SEN incidence data and the development of projections that take account of the overall projected increase in the Borough’s population.

Councillor Pavey (Lead Member, Children and Families) introduced the report which set out the outcome of the statutory proposals to alter the character of certain schools from September 2013. The proposals involved the closure of the Additionally Resourced Provision at Kensal Rise Primary School, increased places at the Additionally Resourced Provision at Oakington Manor Primary School and increased places at Woodfield Special School. Councillor Pavey referred to the outcome of the consultation process and specifically regarding Kensal Rise School acknowledged that the majority of contributors did not support the expansion. Concerns expressed had been discussed in detail, responded to and parents, who so wished, had been offered places elsewhere.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that approval be given to the permanent closure of the Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP) at Kensal Rise Primary School with effect from September 2013;

(ii)        that approval be given to the change to the character of Oakington Manor Primary School by increasing the number of Additionally Resourced Places (ARP) from 25 to 35 places and to change the designation from SLCN to SLCN and ASD from September 2013;

(iii)       that approval be given to the expansion of Woodfield Special School by adding 40 new places for students aged 14 to 19 and change the designation of the school to provide for the needs of students with moderate learning difficulties (MLD), severe learning difficulties (SLD) and autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) from September 2014;

(iv)       that it be noted that Brent Council was addressing the increased demand for special school places through a number of initiatives guided by careful analysis of SEN incidence data and the development of projections that take account of the overall projected increase in the Borough’s population.

This report sets out the services provided by the Tricycle Theatre through a Service Level Agreement, linked to a grant from the Council, the benefits to Brent residents of the partnership and recent performance levels. In January 2012 the Executive decided that grants to the voluntary sector would be for three years and this report proposes moving the grant to the Tricycle to a similar arrangement using a stepped approach.

(i)         that the productive partnership to date between the council and the Tricycle Theatre and its benefits to Brent residents be noted;

(ii)        that the initial two year grant cycle to run from 1 April 2013 – 31

March 2015 for the Tricycle Theatre worth £198,000 per annum and to a three year grant cycle thereafter be approved;

(iii)       that the grant to the Tricycle Theatre be managed through a Service Level Agreement and is dependent on delivery of agreed performance targets set by the council.

The report from the Strategic Director, Environment and Neighbourhoods set out the services provided by the Tricycle Theatre through a Service Level Agreement (SLA), linked to a grant from the council, the benefits to Brent residents of the partnership and recent performance levels. In January 2012 the Executive decided that grants to the voluntary sector would be for three years and the report proposed moving the grant to the Tricycle to a similar arrangement using a stepped approach. Councillor Mashari (Lead Member, Environment and Neighbourhoods) referred to the activities the Tricycle Theatre agreed in the 2013/14 SLA which included 400 sessions for organised school groups, sessions with young people living on the Traveller site and other workshops. Consideration was also being given to emphasising employment opportunities and progress was being made in attracting new audiences.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that the productive partnership to date between the council and the Tricycle Theatre and its benefits to Brent residents be noted;

(ii)        that the initial two year grant cycle to run from 1 April 2013 – 31 March 2015 for the Tricycle Theatre worth £198,000 per annum and to a three year grant cycle thereafter be approved;

(iii)       that the grant to the Tricycle Theatre be managed through a Service Level Agreement and be dependent on delivery of agreed performance targets set by the council.

The purpose of this report is to seek approval to invite tenders as required by Contract Standing Orders 88 and 89 for a single partner to deliver an energy efficiency programme, with a specific focus on the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), which is designed to tackle fuel poverty, affordable warmth and carbon emission problems at no cost to some householders in the highest need.

(i)         that approval be given to the pre - tender considerations and the criteria to be used to evaluate tenders as set out in paragraph 3.13 of the report from the Strategic Director, Regeneration and Growth;

(ii)        that approval be given to the invite of tenders and their evaluation in accordance with the approved evaluation criteria referred to in (i) above.

Councillor McLennan (Lead Member, Housing) introduced the report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Growth which sought approval to invite tenders as required by Contract Standing Orders 88 and 89 for a single partner to deliver an energy efficiency programme, with a specific focus on the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) which was designed to tackle fuel poverty, affordable warmth and carbon emission problems at no cost to some householders in the highest need. Councillor McLennan welcomed the initiative and stressed the need to address fuel poverty which had implications for public health and referred to the impact the proposals would have on employment and the rebuild of the economy. The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Growth clarified that a green deal for private households would be available in due course.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that approval be given to the pre-tender considerations and the criteria to be used to evaluate tenders as set out in paragraph 3.13 of the report from the Strategic Director, Regeneration and Growth;

(ii)        that approval be given to the invite of tenders and their evaluation in accordance with the approved evaluation criteria referred to in (i) above.

This report seeks Executive approval to proceed with the disposal of the Council’s long leasehold interest in the vacant residential Housing Revenue Account (HRA) dwelling at 24a Linden Avenue NW10 5RE for a capital receipt, which is to be ring-fenced to meet future enfranchisement costs.

(i)         that approval be given to the disposal of the Council’s long leasehold interest in the subject property on the open market for a capital receipt;

(ii)        that approval be given to the Operational Director of Property and Projects, Regeneration and Growth, to agree the terms of the disposal and the most appropriate disposal route;

(iii)       that agreement be given to ring fence the net capital receipt to the enfranchisement pot, which needs to be maintained at a sufficient level to enable the Council to fund the purchase of the freehold or new extended lease term interests in suitable properties within the residential leasehold portfolio where the fixed term leases are coming to an end, as set out further in paragraphs 4.4 to 4.5 of the report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Growth.

The report before the Executive from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Growth sought approval to proceed with the disposal of the council’s long leasehold interest in a vacant ground floor residential Housing Revenue Account dwelling on Linden Avenue NW10.  Councillor Crane (Lead Member, Regeneration and Major Projects) stated that the proceeds from the sale would be ring-fenced to meet future enfranchisement costs.

The Executive also had before them an appendix to the report which was not for publication as it contained the following category of exempt information as specified in Schedule 12 of the Local Government (Access to Information Act) 1972: 

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED:

(i)         that approval be given to the disposal of the council’s long leasehold interest in the subject property on the open market for a capital receipt;

(ii)        that approval be given to the Operational Director of Property and Projects, Regeneration and Growth, to agree the terms of the disposal and the most appropriate disposal route;

(iii)       that agreement be given to ring fence the net capital receipt to the enfranchisement pot, which needs to be maintained at a sufficient level to enable the Council to fund the purchase of the freehold or new extended lease term interests in suitable properties within the residential leasehold portfolio where the fixed term leases are coming to an end, as set out further in paragraphs 4.4 to 4.5 of the report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Growth.

An investment opportunity has arisen to provide a high quality table tennis centre including the possible development of residential accommodation, proposals provide for the regeneration of land that is currently in a poor state at Dudden Hill Lane and High Road, Willesden.

That consideration of this report be deferred.

RESOLVED:

that consideration of the report be deferred.

To consider the renewal of the lease at Kingsbury Library Plus and premises, 522 Kingsbury Road, Kingsbury, NW9 9HE.

that a new lease from 22 October 2013 be entered into in accordance with the details set out in the report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Growth and the confidential appendix 1 and on such other terms as the Operational Director Property and Projects considers in the best interests of the Council.

Members had before them a report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Growth concerning the renewal of the lease at Kingsbury Library Plus and premises, 522 Kingsbury Road, Kingsbury, NW9 9HE. Councillor Crane (Lead Member, Regeneration and Major Projects) reminded the Executive that the library had relocated from Stag Lane approximately five years ago and advised that the outcome of on-going discussions with the landlord over a new lease would be reported back.

The Executive also had before them an appendix to the report which was not for publication as it contained the following category of exempt information as specified in Schedule 12 of the Local Government (Access to Information Act) 1972: 

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED:

that a new lease from 22 October 2013 be entered into in accordance with the details set out in the report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Growth and the confidential appendix 1 and on such other terms as the Operational Director Property and Projects considers in the best interests of the Council.

To seek Executive consent to the renewal of the lease of property utilised by Brent Transport Services at the East Lane Business Park, North Wembley.

that the Executive agrees that a new lease for 5 years is entered from 29 September 2013 in accordance with the details below and in the confidential appendix1 and on such other terms as the Operational Director Property and Projects considers in the best interests of the Council.

Councillor Crane (Lead Member, Regeneration and Major Projects) introduced the report which sought consent to the renewal of the lease of property utilised by Brent Transport Services at the East Lane Business Park, North Wembley.

The Executive also had before them an appendix to the report which was not for publication as it contained the following category of exempt information as specified in Schedule 12 of the Local Government (Access to Information Act) 1972: 

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED:

that agreement be given to a new five year lease from 29 September 2013 in accordance with the details in the report from the Strategic Director, Regeneration and Growth and in the confidential to the report and on such other terms as the Operational Director Property and Projects considers in the best interests of the Council.

The Leader of the Council has submitted a statement to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP), which is reviewing the proposed changes to health services in North West London, known as Shaping a Healthier Future. The Leader has requested that his statement is presented to Executive for endorsement.

that the submission sent by the Leader of the Council to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel Review into Shaping a Healthier Future be endorsed

The Executive heard that the Leader of the Council had that the Leader of the Council had submitted a statement to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP), which was reviewing the proposed changes to health services in North West London, known as Shaping a Healthier Future. The Leader had requested that his statement was presented to Executive for endorsement. Members expressed enthusiasm for the statement and support to be given to deprived communities, the emphasis on the need to guarantee delivery of hours hospital care. Additionally, GP support for the reconfiguration plans was seen to be essential. Members also expressed concern for the future of Accident and Emergency services at Northwick Park Hospital if out of hours services elsewhere were being reduced. Councillor Hirani (Lead Member, Adults and Health) stressed the importance of capacity and infrastructure and ensuring the long term future of other services at the hospital.

RESOLVED:

that the submission sent by the Leader of the Council to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel Review into Shaping a Healthier Future be endorsed.

This report concerns the award of the Council’s leasehold, right to buy and mortgaged property insurance contract. 

That approval be given to award the Leasehold, Right to Buy & Mortgaged Property Insurance contract to Acumus Ltd for a period of 3 years (with an option to extend for a further 2 years).

The report from the Deputy Director of Finance concerned the award of the Council’s leasehold, right to buy and mortgaged property insurance contract. Councillor R Moher (Lead Member, Resources) summarised the tender process and was pleased to report that the outcome would be a saving of £308,000 per annum for leaseholders as costs were recharged to them.

The Executive also had before them an appendix to the report which was not for publication as it contained the following category of exempt information as specified in Schedule 12 of the Local Government (Access to Information Act) 1972: 

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED:

that approval be given to award the Leasehold, Right to Buy and Mortgaged Property Insurance contract to Acumus Ltd for a period of three years (with an option to extend for a further 2 years).

None.

Councillor J Moher advised the Executive that former councillor and mayor Len Snow had recently been in hospital and would now welcome visitors. Members extended their best wishes to him for a speedy recovery.