Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Room 4, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, HA9 9HD. View directions
Contact: Toby Howes, Senior 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 declared. |
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Minutes of the Previous Meeting held on 6 January 2010 PDF 129 KB The minutes are attached. Minutes: RESOLVED:-
that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 6 January 2010 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting. |
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Matters Arising (if any) Minutes: Early Years Single Funding Formula and Policy for the Allocation of Full Time Places
It was noted that Councillor Mistry was yet to receive clarification of the length and the reasons for the delay to the Full Time Allocations Process and she repeated her request for this information.
Building Schools for the Future Project Initiation Document
In reply to a query from Councillor Powney, Councillor Wharton advised that there was yet to be any decisions on what primary schools would be included in the programme. |
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There were no call-ins at the time of publication of the agenda. The deadline for call-ins to be submitted is Monday, 25 January 2010. Additional documents:
Minutes: Decisions made by the Executive on the 18th January 2010 in respect of the reports below were called-in for consideration by the Forward Plan Select Committee in accordance with Standing Order 18.
(a) Former Scouts Hall Site, Coniston Gardens, Kingsbury
The reasons for the call-in were:-
· It clearly breaches Planning Policy CF6 concerning the loss of community type facilities and · There has been insufficient consultation with local residents and other stakeholders.
In addition, two Members provided the following extra reason for the call-in:
· A petition of over 350 signatures from the residents of the Springfield estate was handed in on Friday, 15th January, yet no reference was made to it at the Executive of January 18th.
The Chair invited Councillor Wharton (Lead Member for Children and Families) to provide an initial response to the reasons for call-in. He confirmed that the scout hut had been vacated by the Scouts Association in 2007 and is in a derelict condition. The decision to dispose of the site to a housing association would contribute to the Council’s housing objective and include accommodation for larger families. Members heard that Oliver Goldsmith Primary School had also put forward proposals to make use of the land. However, it was felt that the site did not provide sufficient space for a free standing building, whilst a grant of £25,000 that the school had applied for from the Capital Fund would allow revisions to the existing buildings. Councillor Wharton did not feel that the funding available would be adequate for the extended school provision that the school had proposed on the site and he was confident that the housing association would be able to carry out their proposals and provide capital receipts for the Council.
Mr Mantoura, speaking on behalf of Springfield Estate Residents’ Association, was invited to address the Select Committee. Mr Mantoura expressed concern that the Executive had not acknowledged a petition submitted by Springfield Estate Residents’ Association requesting that the Council consider the site be used for community activities and by Oliver Goldsmith Primary School for extended school purposes. He felt that there had been no consultation with local residents on the future of the site. In addition, he suggested that more funding may become available to the school in future for extended school activities and that by selling the land to a housing association this opportunity would be closed permanently.
In reply to queries from Members, Mr Mantoura stated that a Muslim Youth Club had used the scout hut around three or four times a week with anything between 11 to 30 people attending prior to it being vacated by the Scouts Association in 2007, however it had not been used since due to the hut’s state of disrepair. He commented that Springfield Estate was relatively isolated and that if the land was disposed to the housing association it would be a loss of potential community facilities that were much needed.
Councillor J Moher, a ward councillor for the area ... view the full minutes text for item 4. |
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To follow. Minutes: RESOLVED:-
that the Executive List of Decisions that took place on Monday, 18 January 2010 be noted. |
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Carbon Reduction Commitment
The Select Committee requested a briefing note on this item providing details of how the carbon reduction emissions targets will be achieved.
To follow.
The Lead Member and lead officer have also been invited to the meeting to respond to Members’ questions. Minutes: Carbon Reduction Commitment
Judith Young (Head of Policy Information and Performance, Environment and Culture) introduced the report and advised that the Carbon Commitment Reduction Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) was an obligatory emissions trading scheme and a key element of emissions reduction targets for the Climate Change Act 2008. The CRC aimed to generate a shift in awareness, behaviour and infrastructure. Judith Young then highlighted some of the main aspects of the CRC, including:-
· Emissions trading – starting in April 2010 each participant would have emissions allowances that they can hold and cancel at the end of each scheme year that corresponded with their total CO2 emissions, with participants free to trade allowances amongst themselves during the year. Those who did not hold sufficient allowances by the end of the year or incorrectly report emissions would be subject to a stringent penalty regime. · The setting up of a Revenue Recycling and League Table, with those performing well starting with a bonus payment of 10% for the first year and rise to 50% by the fifth year, and those poorly on minus 10% for the first year and minus 50% by the fifth. · Participants would be required to keep records of the data they report in an evidence pack, with a number of penalties applying to situations such as under reporting or failure to surrender allowances.
Judith Young advised that the Climate Change Act required an 80% reduction by 2050 and included a milestone target of 34% by 2020. In order to achieve this, the Council had adopted the Carbon Management Strategy and Implementation Plan (CMIP). A second review of the Plan agreed in October 2009 sets out action plans and resources intended to achieve technical and behavioural changes across the Council and schools to reduce CO2 emissions.
Richard Barrett added that the Property and Asset Management Service was playing a leading role in championing the green agenda and was an early signatory of the agreement with the Carbon Trust to match funding to undertake CO2 reduction targets. An energy adviser had been recruited to liaise with schools as to how they could reduce their energy consumption and CO2 emissions. This was particularly vital to the Council’s aims as schools presently emitted considerably more CO2 than other Council buildings and other high energy users would also be targeted. Richard Barrett advised that another initiative included replacing bottled water with piped, filtered water which was both cheaper and more carbon efficient than bottled water.
During discussion, Councillor H B Patel suggested that as tap water in the UK was amongst the cleanest in the World, then this should be used as drinking water as it would be both the cheapest and most carbon efficient option. He sought further details concerning emissions trading. Councillor Mistry enquired whether there were IT constraints in what information could be captured and recorded accurately. She felt that junior schools in Brent were much involved in pursuing the green agenda and added that Roe Green Junior School was opening ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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Briefing Notes/Information Updates requested by the Select Committee from earlier versions of the Forward Plan |
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Petition for Changes to the Consultation Process The Select Committee requested a further briefing note on this item providing clarification of the consultation process and specifically with regard to multiple responses from a single household.
To follow.
Minutes: RESOLVED:-
that the request for a briefing note providing clarification on the consultation process, specifically with regard to multiple responses from a single household be repeated and that this be provided at the next meeting of the Select Committee n 3 March 2010.
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Building Schools for the Future Project Initiation Document The Select Committee requested a further briefing note on this item providing details of what primary schools will benefit from the project.
To follow.
Minutes: RESOLVED:-
that the request for a briefing note providing details of what primary schools will benefit from the programme be repeated and that this be provided at the next meeting of the Select Committee on 3 March 2010.
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The Forward Plan - Issue 10 PDF 129 KB Issue 10 of the Forward Plan (08.02.10 to 01.06.10) of the Forward Plan will be published on Monday, 25 January 2010. Issue 9 of the Forward Plan (12.01.10 to 02.05.10) is attached for information. Minutes: Issue 10 of the Forward Plan (08.02.10 to 01.06.10) was before Members of the Select Committee. Following consideration of Issue 10 of the Forward Plan, the Select Committee made the following requests:-
Printing Tender Review Results
The Select Committee requested a briefing note on this item explaining the reasons why this item had been removed from the Forward Plan. The request was made by Councillor Powney.
Early Years Single Funding Formula and Policy for the Allocation of Full Time Places
The Select Committee requested a briefing note on this item explaining why the report had not been deferred in view that many schools were not satisfied with the proposals. The request was made by the Chair.
The Brent Public Health Realm Design Guide
The Select Committee requested a briefing note on this item explaining why it is proposed to include shared spaces and shared surfaces in view of the significant opposition to these measures. The request was made by the Chair.
The Select Committee also agreed to the Chair’s suggestion that the task group report on Safety on the Journey to and from School be e-mailed to Members. |
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Items considered by the Executive that were not included in the Forward Plan (if any) There were none. Minutes: None. |
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Date of Next Meeting The next scheduled meeting of the Forward Plan Select Committee is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 3 March 2010 at 7.30 pm. Minutes: It was noted that the next meeting of the Forward Plan Select Committee was scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 3 March 2010 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. |