Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Room 4, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, HA9 9HD. View directions
Contact: Toby Howes, Democratic Services Officer, 020 8937 1307, Email: toby.howes@brent.gov.uk
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Declarations of Personal and Prejudicial interests Members are invited to declare, at this stage of the meeting, any relevant financial or other interest in the items on this agenda. Minutes: None. |
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Minutes of the Previous Meeting held on Tuesday, 3rd November 2009 PDF 161 KB The minutes are attached. Minutes: RESOLVED:-
that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 3rd November 2009 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting, subject to the following amendments:-
Page 1, under PRESENT: insert Councillor Kansagra (alternate for Councillor H B Patel), Councillor Motley (alternate for Councillor Tancred)
Page 1, under Apologies were received from: insert Councillor H B Patel. |
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Matters Arising (if any) Minutes: None. |
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Decisions made by the Executive on the 16th November 2009 in respect of the report below were called-in for consideration by the Forward Plan Select Committee in accordance with Standing Order 18.
Authority to Award the Residential and Respite Care Contract for People with Learning Difficulties
The decisions made at the Executive meeting in respect of this item were:-
(i) that approval be given to the award of the contract for the provision of residential and respite care services for people with learning disabilities for a period of 3 years commencing on 1 February 2010 with an option to extend the contract for a further two-year period to The Camden Society subject to resolution of pensions arrangements and to subsequent endorsement of arrangements by the General Purposes Committee;
(ii) that the Director of Housing and Community Care be authorised, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources and the Borough Solicitor to resolve pensions arrangements;
(iii) that approval be given to the grant of short term rent free leases in respect of Melrose House, the three properties at Tudor Gardens and the property at Willesden Lane to The Camden Society in accordance upon the terms of the Contract for the reason set out in paragraph 7.10 of the report from the Director of Housing and Community Care.
The reasons for the call-in are:
(i) Concern about the security of staff on TUPE transfer; (ii) The implications of the new contract on the terms of the Local Government Pension Scheme; (iii) The security of current residents in the new establishments given that the preferred provider is anticipating a proportion of them being in a semi self supporting regime; (iv) The lack of consideration of proposals put forward by our own employees.
The Executive report is attached. The Lead Member and Lead Officer are invited to attend the meeting to respond to Members’ questions. Additional documents:
Minutes: Decisions made by the Executive on the 16th November 2009 in respect of the report below was called-in for consideration by the Forward Plan Select Committee in accordance with Standing Order 18.
Authority to Award the Residential and Respite Care Contract for People with Learning Difficulties
The reasons for the call-in were:-
(i) Concern about the security of staff on TUPE transfer; (ii) The implications of the new contract on the terms of the Local Government Pension Scheme; (iii) The security of current residents in the new establishments given that the preferred provider is anticipating a proportion of them being in a semi self supporting regime; (iv) The lack of consideration of proposals put forward by our own employees.
With the agreement of the Chair, Ken Knight addressed the Select Committee. Ken Knight explained that his sister was a resident at Melrose House and that he and a number of relatives of other residents had been liaising with the Council concerning the future of the residents. He asserted that there were a number of inaccuracies in the report and stated that all relatives had expressed concern about the residents’ profiles underestimating the extent of residents’ disabilities. Although it had been agreed to re-assess the profiles, Ken Knight said he was not confident that the tenderers had received the revised profiles incorporating relatives’ comments and he was certain that some revised profiles had not been submitted. He sought clarification that all tenderers had received identical information concerning the level of disabilities of residents and costings, including the offer of pension indemnity as had been agreed with The Camden Society who had won the contract. Ken Knight added that in his view, The Camden Society were the only organisation that had no experience of providing the type of service required.
In reply to queries from Members, Ken Knight commented that no confirmation had been made verifying that the revised residents’ profiles incorporating the relatives’ comments had been sent to all tenderers. He suggested that it was possible that the profiles may have underestimated the residents’ disabilities in order to reduce costings in the tenderers briefings. Although revised profiles had been undertaken, he suggested that these were different to the ones that were submitted to the tenderers which raised concerns about whether the profiles had been assessed independently, whilst it had also not been explained why the revised profiles had not been sent. Ken Knight felt that this could potentially harm the future of all residents, none of whom were in employment and all, in his view, functionally illiterate and innumerate. The Committee noted that the age range of the residents was from 43 years to in their 60s. Ken Knight added that although he had been convinced of the need to move the residents to new accommodation, a change in location and in how the service would be delivered was a big upheaval to residents. Although the tenderers had written to all the residents and provided presentations, in his ... view the full minutes text for item 4. |
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The List of Decisions from the meeting of the Executive that took place on Monday, 16th November 2009 is attached. Minutes: The Chair noted that the decisions from the minutes of the Executive in relation to Development of Contracts with Voluntary Organisations had been slightly amended to those in the Executive List of Decisions.
RESOLVED:-
That the Executive List of Decisions for the meeting that took place on Monday, 16th November 2009 be noted. |
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Termination of Middlesex House and Lancelot Housing Scheme
The Select Committee requested a briefing note on this item providing the background details to the decision due to be considered.
The Executive report is also attached. Minutes: Termination of Middlesex House and Lancelot Housing Scheme
RESOLVED:-
that the briefing note on the Termination of Middlesex and Lancelot Housing Scheme be noted. |
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Briefing Notes/Information Updates requested by the Select Committee from earlier versions of the Forward Plan |
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Cultural Strategy for Brent 2010-2015 PDF 57 KB The Select Committee requested a briefing note on this item providing details of who out of the 400 local organisations contacted responded to the consultation, what involvement was there with voluntary sector organisations and schools and were there any changes made to the proposals following the responses to the consultation. Minutes: RESOLVED:-
that the briefing note on the Cultural Strategy for Brent 2010-2015 be noted. |
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Petition for Changes to the Consultation Process PDF 53 KB The Select Committee requested a briefing note providing information as to whether the decision by the Executive on 16th October that consultation documents make it clear that consultations are open to all residents within a single household represents a change in policy of consultation undertaken by the Transportation Unit and whether the consultation documents returned must be originals or whether a photocopy is acceptable.
The Executive report is also attached. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair requested that a further briefing note be provided at the next meeting of the Select Committee clarifying what the procedure is when identical responses to Transportation consultations are received from the same household and are these responses weighted.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that the briefing note on the Petition for Changes to the Consultation Processes be noted; and
(ii) that a further briefing note be provided at the next meeting of the Select Committee on the 6th January 2010 to clarify what the procedure is when identical responses to Transportation consultations are received from the same household and are these responses weighted. |
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The Forward Plan - Issue 8 PDF 136 KB Issue 8 (07.12.09 to 04.04.10) of the Forward Plan is attached. Minutes: Issue 8 of the Forward Plan (07.12.09 to 04.04.10) was before members of the Select Committee. Following consideration of Issue 8 of the Forward Plan, the Select Committee made the following requests:-
(i) 2009 Residents Attitude Survey
The Select Committee requested a briefing note on this item explaining the reasons why it is proposed to have the survey undertaken biennially and would this result in savings or additional costs. The request was made by Councillor Powney.
(ii) Building Schools for the Future Project Initiation Document
The Select Committee requested a briefing note on this item detailing what schools would be affected. The request was made by Councillor Powney
(iii) Early Years Single Funding Formula and Policy for the Allocation of Full Time Places
The Select Committee requested a briefing note on this item detailing the results of the consultation. The request was made by the Chair.
(iv) 2012 Action Plan
The Select Committee requested a briefing note on this item providing details on what action was being taken to upgrade town centres and the costs of the Action Plan.
Lead Member and lead officer attendance was also requested to respond to Members’ questions. The request was made by the Chair and Councillor Powney.
(v) Controlled Parking Zones Progress Report
The Select Committee requested a briefing note on this item providing the nature of the decisions to be made in respect of Preston Road, Northwick Park, Kenton, Alperton, Kingsbury and the Controlled Parking Zones review. The request was made by Councillor H B Patel.
(vi) Telecoms Aerials on Residential Buildings
The Select Committee requested a briefing note on this item outlining what the income generated was spent on and was any used to improve the security of the buildings. The request was made by the Chair. |
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Items considered by the Executive that were not included in the Forward Plan (if any) None. Minutes: None. |
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Date of Next Meeting The next meeting of the Forward Plan Select Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, 6th January 2009 at 7.30 pm. Minutes: It was noted that the next meeting of the Forward Plan Select Committee was scheduled for Wednesday, 6th January 2009 at 7.30 pm. |
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Any Other Urgent Business Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Democratic Services Manager or his representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 64. Minutes: None. |